Community helps out Central Bay of Plenty Junior Rugby after theft of gear

Toi Ohomai engineering students Jake King and Crystel Roberts with tutor Daniel Marks. Photo / Stephen Parker

Police are still investigating the theft of a trailer full of rugby equipment from Rotorua International Stadium - but in the meantime the community has rallied in support of the victims.

Central Bay of Plenty Junior Rugby reported a white trailer containing rugby goal post pads, flags and lines missing on Saturday morning. The junior rugby chairwoman, Selena Syme, estimated it would cost $15,000 to replace.

Dave Bangs, the owner of Easy Firewood Rotorua, saw the story about the theft on the Rotorua Daily Post website.

Bangs decided he would do what he could to help and was auctioning off 7cu m of firewood on Facebook and gifting the proceeds to the rugby club.

"It's only small but every bit helps."

Bangs said that amount of firewood would usually sell for just over $500 but he hoped generous people would bid higher than that.

The auction is taking place on the Easy Firewood Facebook and closes this Sunday at 7pm.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology had also offered to make the club a new trailer and help with fundraising.

Group manager engineering Mark Hendry said he hoped some senior engineering students would build the new trailer.

"It will be a very good project for the students. We do support that grassroots rugby. It's a major part of the community we're part of.

"The students will get something out of it and the rugby club will get something out of it so it's a win for everybody."

Syme said she was blown away by the outpouring of support and how far reaching it was.

The club was making do with some of its older equipment and planned to "beg, borrow and steal" from senior clubs finished for the season.

Police encouraged people with information to contact Rotorua police or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.