Auckland City Rail Link staff have been left scratching their heads after a new 10-metre long mural was stolen overnight.
Galway Street's Te Waka Tūhono mural, with Berenize Peita whose vision it was and graphic designer Geoff Fitzpatrick who made it happen. Photo: Supplied
Te Waka Tūhono went up yesterday morning on Galway Street near the entrance to Britomart Station and shows a waka turning into a train.
This morning however, it was gone.
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Projects communications manager Carol Greensmith said the piece was big and heavy and the theft would not have been a five-minute job.
"We're a bit disappointed and perplexed, surprised, and we're all scratching our heads going "how did they do it?" because it was attached pretty well and it hasn't been ripped or defaced or anything like that. You can see it's been taken very carefully.
She said it was made of heavy, high-quality PVC and was put up using industrial strength staples straight onto plywood.
"If they rolled it up they'd have to carry it over their shoulder, it'd be too heavy for one person to carry.
She said there had been no misgivings about the design, with the work getting the go-ahead from eight different Mana Whenua.
"Whether a bunch of people perhaps had a few too many beers last night and someone's woken up wrapped up in it this morning, I don't know, but we'd quite like it back.
Carol Greensmith said they were reviewing local CCTV footage today before going to the police and were hoping it would returned soon.
"So we're hoping someone loves it, but we probably love it a bit more and we'd quite like it back."
