The St Mary's School gala sign has gone missing in action - and organisers want it back.
PTA chairwoman Lee-Anne Yeoward said the 2m x by 1.2m advertising sign, which was attached to a wire fence at the intersection of Malfroy Rd and Ranolf St, was last seen at 3.30pm on Wednesday but was gone by 8.30am yesterday.
She believes the $700 sign was stolen and has reported it to the police.
Mrs Yeoward said the theft was "gutting" as the PTA couldn't afford to pay for advertising and relied on the sign to let people know about its annual gala - the proceeds of which were vital to the school.
"The PTA works hard to raise money to support our school and kids," she said.
"We have got to get advertising out there."
Mrs Yeoward said the school had the sign for about seven years and it had never been tampered with until about five days ago when it was tagged.
It seemed a strange item for someone to steal, she said.
Rotorua District Council had given the PTA permission to hang the sign.
Mrs Yeoward said those responsible for taking the sign could return it to St Mary's "no questions asked".
Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotorua police.
The St Mary's School gala is on February 27 from 4-7pm.
