Police are still looking for thieves who stole rare gold, sliver and bronze items from the Waipu Museum, including Celtic-style brooches.
Nine items, all linked to the story of the Scottish migration to Nova Scotia then Waipu between 1817 and 1854, had been taken from the Waipu Museum over the past three weeks, museum manager Patsy Montgomery said.
The items were removed without damaging the display cases so the theft was only noticed last Wednesday. The cases were checked every two weeks, so the items could have been missing that long.
They included two silver brooches which are more than 200 years old and three gold fob watches.
Ms Montgomery said the items were not particularly valuable, but they had priceless spiritual and cultural value to the people of Waipu.
Contact Whangarei police on 430 4500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.