Cladding thieves sink sailing trust's shed project

All that remains of a Hokianga sailing club's dream is this bare frame.

A small Northland town is devastated by the theft of two tonnes of steel cladding which was to have been used to build a community gym and sailing club.

The Hokianga Sailing Trust has been building the clubrooms at Rawene Domain, the culmination of years of planning and fundraising, and had got as far as erecting the framing. The steel cladding was stacked up on site, ready for construction to continue this week, but was stolen some time during Labour Weekend.

Ninety sheets of grey-coloured roofing iron, weighing at least two tonnes, were taken. Secretary David Williams said the cladding was uninsured so the club was "stuffed".

"We have no spare money. We're not a rich east coast sailing club but a poor Hokianga-based, purely volunteer group. Even if we could afford to replace it stealing from us is crap," he said.

"Whoever did this has ripped off all the local kids involved in the sailing programme, and the community groups behind the project: the sailing trust, the fire brigade, Coastguard and the local school."

The stolen cladding could be linked to the theft of a trailer from the Rawene Hospital grounds around the same time. A truck or large trailer would have been needed to take so much cladding, he said.

Club president Rene de Vries said the trust, which was trying to revive sailing on the Hokianga Harbour and provide youth with a healthy pastime, originally needed somewhere to store and repair its boats. The cash-strapped club was given a huge boost when America's Cup syndicate Alinghi donated a shed intended for its New Zealand campaign but never used.

Later when the Far North District Council got on board and the project grew to include a community gym, Alinghi's shed was no longer big enough. Kerikeri firm Totalspan offered a good deal on trading the shed for a larger model, which is now half built on Rawene Domain.

Mr de Vries said the project had suffered some delays but the trust had been on track to open the building next month, in time for the summer sailing season.

"So this is pretty devastating ... I don't think it's someone from Rawene, but who knows?"

The theft of the trailer - made of galvanised steel with LED lights and steel ramps, registration K145T - has also left a lawnmowing contractor struggling to continue his business.

In total 90 sheets of zinc-coloured (grey) seven-rib zincalume roofing were taken - 36 sheets of 3.2m, 44 sheets of 4m and 16 sheets of various lengths.

Anyone with information about the theft, or who knows where the cladding ended up, is urged to call Kaikohe police on (09) 405 2960, Rawene police on (09) 405 7760 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.