Maritime Museum Hit by Thieves

By John Freer

Stunned and bewildered were two of the terms used today to describe the feelings of volunteers at Paeroa’s Historical Maritime Park following the theft of brass fittings from two boats.

With virtually everything brass aboard both the Ariana and Norita now gone, those who operate the park have no idea where to turn.

Spokesperson, Fleur McDermott, said the theft was bad enough but more so was what lay ahead.

As Fleur said: “One of these boats is over 100 years old, we have no idea where we will be able to get the items required to get them back operating.”

A volunteer of 14 years at the museum, Colin James discovered the missing fittings and equipment this morning. He pulled back a curtain and noticed the missing items which included port holes, driving gear, railings and ship’s steering wheels.

Fleur said Colin was gutted – it has knocked the whole team.

Indications are that whoever took the items knew what they were doing as the theft would have required a vehicle to remove everything that was stollen.

Paeroa Police are involved, Fleur said the theft was having a similar impact on the local police as it was on the volunteers.

Now only two of the museums four boats are operational.

“This theft would have taken a couple of hours, it was not a five-minute job,” said Fleur.

She has already contacted scrap yards in the hope of locating the items taken.

“We are devastated who ever did this stripped everything that was brass off the two boats. These items are irreplaceable.”

Fleur said it was the first time the museum had been experienced such a theft.