Second theft from cemetery

Ngaire Nicholson and her family want a precious walking stick, similar to the one pictured, taken from her late husband’s headstone returned. Photo / Ben Fraser

Another Rotorua grave site has had a precious taonga stolen from it - leaving another family distraught.

Ngaire Nicholson read in the Rotorua Daily Post before Christmas that a priceless pounamu waka was stolen from a headstone in Kauae Cemetery, the same cemetery where her husband Norman, a returned serviceman, lies.

Norman Nicholson's grave. Photo / Ben Fraser

She immediately went down and found that Norman's grave had also been targeted, she said.

A blessed Maori walking stick carved by her grandson Joseph was missing and Christmas decorations placed by her daughter were also knocked over.

"It's a Maori carved walking stick, it was beautiful. That walking stick has been there for 10 years and every now and again my son picks it up and re-varnishes it," she said.

"The walking stick was lying down at the back behind the Christmas tree. They must've been having a good look through all of the rows looking for anything," she said.

"I can't get another one to replace it because Joseph carved one and that's it.

"It was after Norman died that Joseph decided he would carve him a walking stick, and I said to him 'Joseph it will be pinched', but it's been there 10 years."

Mrs Nicholson believes that whoever took the walking stick intended to sell it.

It has been the second such theft reported to the Rotorua Daily Post in recent weeks.

Just before Christmas, Ray Watson discovered his late wife Lisa Watson's headstone had its greenstone waka stolen off it.

Rotorua Lakes Council parks operations manager Brent Smith said the council received complaints about thefts from graves about once or twice a year, which are referred to police.

"We expect people to be respectful and not take items from grave sites. Unfortunately, it does happen from time to time, which is upsetting for the families affected. Staff are at the district's cemeteries constantly, undertaking ongoing mowing, weeding, general maintenance and grave digging," Mr Smith said.

Rotorua Lakes Council is responsible for the Rotorua Cemetery and Crematorium on Sala St and the Mamaku, Reporoa and Ngakuru cemeteries. The council also operates Kauae Cemetery near Ngongotaha, which is governed by a separate board of trustees.