Local artist Timo Rannali was "stoked" to hear an art work he painted has been handed into police 12 years after it was stolen from its owners.
The canvas painting, which depicts a scene from the Mauao base track, was handed in to police on June 3 and the original owner is yet to be tracked down. It measures 605mm by 455mm.
Bay of Plenty police communications manager Kim Perks said the painting had recently come into a man's possession and he had concerns about its origins so handed it in to police.
The police had looked through records but had not been able to locate the original owner, she said.
Mr Rannali said he was stoked it had been found and was not vandalised.