Manawatu man loses sentimental carving on Hawke's Bay holiday

Keep an eye out for Chris Morris' carving around Waipatiki, Napier and Te Mata Peak. Photo / Supplied

A Manawatū man has lost a carving which holds a huge amount of significance, while on holiday at a Hawke's Bay beach.

Chris Morris used to work in the army, and when he left in 2004, he started working in private security in the Middle East.

In 2014 he was working in a management position with his company, when one the men in the contract he was looking after died due to natural causes.

"We ended up bringing his body back to New Zealand.

"I ended up coming back just ahead of his body and spent probably a week with his family getting stuff sorted, and a couple of weeks after."

The family presented him with the carving over the body of their father, husband and son.

"It was quite an emotional moment really."

Recently the Ashhurst man came with his family to stay at Waipatiki Beach, almost on a whim. Their plan to go on holiday in Taupo had fallen through, and the family decided at the last minute to go to Waipatiki Beach instead.

Keep an eye out for this carving around Waipatiki, Napier and Te Mata Peak. Photo / Supplied

The family visited the beach, Napier and Te Mata Peak during their time in Hawke's Bay.

"Then we went back to Palmerston North.

"It was actually on the way back, I realised I didn't have it.

"I'm just so used to wearing it, it's just part of me, I don't really notice it.

"Quite often I'll just grab it and hold it, when I'm driving or something.

"I did and it wasn't there."

When the family arrived home a frantic search began for the lost carving.

"I pulled the car apart, I pulled the washing apart, pulled everything apart, and obviously I'd lost it in that period, in that four days in Hawke's Bay.

"I feel cold and hollow inside, because I've had it for so long and it's been part of me.

"I can't emphasis enough how much that piece actually means to me."

He has been racking his brains trying to remember the last time he had it, but is unsure, although is fairly sure he did not lose it in the water, as he does not normally wear it to go swimming.

He took to social media to see if anyone had spotted the missing carving.

"It's been pretty phenomenal, I mean, I shared it on an open post on my page and last time I looked it had just over 1500 shares.

"A lot of people have been saying it's got meaning, it'll come back, they always do."

He also told the one of the family members who had given him the carving.

"He said it will come back, because you need to have it, so it will come back."