Pair stole 500-year-old rimu

A Taupo pair's attempt to make money from a fallen rimu tree has ended with theft convictions.

Aaron James Mason and Anthony Roy Baker were sentenced in the Taupo District Court after they stole a 4m piece of a 500-year-old rimu from Pureora Forest, between Lake Taupo and Te Kuiti.

Mason was ordered to do 180 hours' community work and Baker was sentenced to do 350 hours.

The 24-year-olds also have to pay $750 in court costs.