Stolen Tiori Toru sculpture: Whangārei art centre and gallery seek public help finding thief who escaped on bicycle
The Whangārei art centre and gallery faced a startling loss when the newly installed Tiori Toru sculpture vanished overnight, prompting an urgent call for public assistance.
The work, a striking glass and resin representation of native birds set in a pōhutukawa slab, had been unveiled as part of an outdoor exhibition intended to bring art into everyday public spaces. Its disappearance was captured on CCTV, showing a thief fleeing on a bicycle.
Centre staff expressed deep disappointment, noting the emotional impact on the artist and the broader community that had come to cherish the piece. They stressed that the theft threatens the trust that allows artists to display work outside traditional walls.
Authorities have been contacted, and the centre is urging anyone with information to reach out anonymously via Crime Stoppers, hoping the sculpture can be recovered undamaged and that future outdoor projects remain viable.