A historically significant plaque stolen from an east Auckland public reserve has been replaced thanks to the generosity of several local community groups.
The bronze plaque was fixed to a low brick plinth in Fencible Walk Park in Howick’s Picton Street as part of commemorations of the suburb’s 175th anniversary.
Its disappearance was raised by a person who posted a photo of the bare plinth to a Facebook community page on March 12, saying she’d noticed it missing during her walk in the area.
The plaque is believed to have been stolen the previous night to be sold for scrap metal.
Its inscription notes the arrival of the Fencible families who sailed from Britain to Auckland in the “hope of creating a secure and prosperous future for themselves and their descendents”.
Howick 175 committee member Marin Burgess says the 175 Trust had a mock plaque made up prior to the first one being made.
That’s been used as a copy to make a replacement, which has been jointly funded by the Howick Freemasons Charitable Trust and the Rotary Club of Howick.
Burgess was in Fencible Walk Park on July 10 to see the replacement plaque being installed with the Howick Freemasons Charitable Trust’s Mike Abercrombie and Madeleine East of the Rotary Club of Howick.
“We heard about it [having been stolen] and I happen to be a member of both organisations,” Abercrombie says.
“We normally fund things on our own but I thought it would be good if we shared it with another local community group.”
East adds: “Rather than have a blank plinth it made sense for two community groups to come together.
“Most people in Howick are very community-minded.
“There’s a real sense of community and community pride and when some senseless [crime] like this happens, people come together.”
Burgess says the replacement plaque cost almost $2000, which was money the 175 Trust didn’t have as it had been disbanded once the anniversary commemorations were over.
“We had to rapidly come together and I was very grateful that one of our ambassadors, Rob Mouncey, was a Rotarian, and he came up with the idea.
“Then Mike joined in from the Freemasons. For me the joint offering and contribution from them epitomises Howick.
“The 175 Trust members we’ve been in touch with are extremely grateful because it would have been very difficult for us to recover anything and get this done.”
The replacement plaque is made of cast iron.
It’s been attached to the plinth using more and longer screws than last time, as well as an adhesive concrete sealant, making it harder to steal.
“It has no commercial value but it has huge sentimental value” Burgess says.
“It provides a connection from 1847 right through to the present day.”
