Pania statue found

Pania of the Reef went missing from Napier seafront prompting a police search. File picture

The statue of Pania of the Reef, which was stolen from Napier's foreshore last month, has been found.

Napier police said they had located the statue at a residential address in Napier and were interviewing a person.

The life-sized bronze statue, which has been part of the Marine Parade landscape since 1954, disappeared nine days ago.

Napier area commander Inspector Kevin Kalff told a media conference that Pania had been found safe and sound as a result of "routine inquiries" based on information received during the investigation

No charges had yet been made yet, he said.

- NZPA