A plaque installed as part of Howick’s 175th anniversary commemorations has seemingly gone missing.
It was unveiled by Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown at a ceremony on November 12, 2022, and attached to a low brick structure in Picton Street’s Fencible Walk Park.
Reverend Dr Richard Waugh delivered a welcome and a prayer while those in attendance enjoyed a performance from Howick Brass.
On hand also were Howick Local Board chairperson Damian Light, Howick ward councillors Sharon Stewart and Maurice Williamson, and Times Media managing director Reay Neben.
A person recently posted a photo to a Facebook community page saying she’d noticed the plaque missing during her walk in the area.
The inscription on the plaque reads: “1847-2022. Honouring 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 descendants.
“The Fencible immigration scheme of 1847-1854 was one of the largest in New Zealand, bringing 2463 people to Auckland.
“Their arrival almost doubled the settler population of the time and led to the establishment of four settlements including the village of Howick. Fencible Walk.”
The Times has contacted Auckland Council and the Howick Village Association for comment on the missing plaque.
