The patu paraoa (club) missing from the Rotorua Lakes Council has still not been found. PHOTO/FILE
The patu paraoa (club) missing from the Rotorua Lakes Council has still not been found. PHOTO/FILE
Despite a $500 reward and numerous appeals to the public, a treasured patu taken from the Rotorua Lakes Council chamber has still not been recovered.
It's been more than a month since council staff discovered the patu paraoa (club) was missing after last being seen at a council meeting mid-December.
The patu was made by master carver Lewis Gardiner and gifted to the council by Te Arawa hapu Tuhourangi-Ngati Wahiao and Ngati Tamateatutahi-Kawiti in honour of the council's new relationship with Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board and also in honour of the late Mauriora Kingi.
An elected member of Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board and one of the board's two members on the council's Operations and Monitoring Committee, Potaua Biasiny-Tule, made an offer of $500 for the patu's return, no questions asked, but still has had no solid information as to its whereabouts.
The council's kaitiaki Maori director Monty Morrison said no fresh leads in the search for the patu were being followed.
Council staff have been keeping an eye on online trading sites such as Trade Me and e-Bay and had asked local businesses to inform the council if anyone tried to sell it locally.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of the patu, they can call Mr Morrison, on (07) 351 8348, confidentially if necessary, or call Rotorua police.
Missing patu - Taken from the Rotorua Lakes Council Chamber some time after December 15 - Made to honour the council's Te Arawa partnership and the late Mauriora Kingi - $500 reward offered by a Te Arawa board member - Has still not been recovered
