Waka logistics organiser Cyril Wright is grateful the cloaks have been returned. Photo / Greg Bowker
Waka logistics organiser Cyril Wright is grateful the cloaks have been returned. Photo / Greg Bowker
KEY POINTS:
Twenty Maori ceremonial cloaks stolen hours before they were due to be sent to the America's Cup base in Spain have been recovered.
The flax cloaks - known as kakahu - are to be worn by warriors in a waka that will lead Team New Zealand out ofthe harbour at Valencia in its first race of the regatta.
But they were taken when thieves broke into waka logistics organiser Cyril Wright's ute on Friday morning.
The stolen cloaks were mysteriously dropped at Nga Whare Waatea Marae, in Mangere, on Saturday night by a man who quickly left.
The marae then called the police and the police contacted Mr Wright.
Mr Wright sent a friend to collect the precious cargo.
"It's just really great to have them home."
Mr Wright, who is to leave for Spain today, said he had gone through an emotional two days.
"I jumped for joy when I heard they had been handed in," he said.
The priceless cloaks, which took "hundreds and hundreds" of hours to make, were wet but in relatively good condition.
Mr Wright said the cloaks were in a blue suitcase and he believed the thieves did not know what they were taking.
It was likely they had a change of heart when they saw the contents.
His only message for the thieves was one of thanks - for returning what was "worthless to them, although priceless to the waka crew".
