Thieves were going for kauri gum

The damaged early 1900s display cabinet in the foyer of the Far North District Council building in Kaikohe. The thieves targeted the best and biggest pieces on display amongst the collection donated by Frank G Dickeson. Photo / Debbie Beadle

Thieves broke into the Far North District Council offices in Kaikohe on Wednesday, targeting the antique gum cabinet in the main foyer.

Both the cabinet and its contents were donated to the Kaikohe Borough Council, and were inherited by the district council, by Frank Dickeson (1886-1975) in the 1970s.

The gum was part of his family collection. Dickeson's General Store, which traded the commodity, was one of the first businesses to be established in Kaikohe.

Council staff were unsure where the gum had come from, but it is believed to be local.

The Mid North's kauri gum history dates back to the 1880s.

Multiple businesses, including a photographic shop, a blacksmith and a shoe-maker, sprang up as diggers flocked to the area, and Kaikohe soon became an important centre for the industry. As the supply dwindled the gumdiggers were succeeded by farmers.

Police have taken fingerprints from the cabinet and will be reviewing security footage to identify the thieves, while anyone who has any information is asked to contact the Kaikohe station on (09) 405-2960.