A group of Japanese junior high school students from Kakogawa City ringing the Peace Bell in 2023. Photo: Auckland Council / supplied
An Auckland local board chair is astonished a one-tonne bronze bell was stolen from the Japanese Garden in Henderson, Auckland.
The Peace Bell was gifted to former Mayor Sir Bob Harvey by the Japanese city of Kakogawa in 1997, after the signing of a friendship agreement between Waitākere City and Kakogawa in 1991.
Council staff discovered the bell was missing on Tuesday morning.
Henderson-Massey Local Board chair Chris Carter said moving the bell would have been very difficult.
"It would seem to be an extraordinary effort to steal a relatively small but heavy piece of brass. Because it's so heavy, it was being supported by a great deal of thick steel. They would have to cut through it with a metal grinder to cut the metal bolts to release it.
"We have students from Kakogawa visit every year, and we have an event with the Japanese Consul-General in Auckland , Mr [Shinji] Matsui, at the site.
"When I have to remove the gong, I can't quite reach it, so whoever was involved in stealing it had to go to a great deal of effort.
'It's astonishing."
The Peace Bell at the Japanese garden complex in Henderson, gifted by Kakogawa City, Japan, in 1997. Photo: Auckland Council / supplied
He was emotional about the theft and hoped they would get the bell back.
"It's not only a beautiful object, but it's been a special part of the former Waitākere City and the community here in Henderson," he said.
He said Japanese Park was in a busy area, with Henderson Railway and coffee shops right next door.
But because there were no houses nearby, if the bell was stolen overnight, the thieves could have gotten away without being heard.
He said that while there was no CCTV near the bell, they were looking through nearby CCTV footage to see what vehicles were in the vicinity in the early hours of the morning during the time the bell was taken.
They were also checking nearby scrap metal places.
The Peace Bell was found to be missing on Tuesday morning. Photo: Auckland Council / supplied
Waitākere Ward Councillor Shane Henderson said it was "deeply saddening and concerning".
"I hope for the safe return of the Peace Bell and for the continued growth of friendship between our two cities."
Auckland Councillor for Waitākere Ken Turner said he was shocked by the theft.
"It's an unusual occurrence. ... It's a mammoth lift. It couldn't have been done physically and must have been done mechanically is my understanding.
"It shows you the value of scrap metal maybe and how tight the economy is.
"But it's astounding the value compared to effort."
He said the council had sent a letter to the Japanese Consulate, expressing its disappointment, which he signed.
"Because it's from a sister city, we're just touching base to make sure they know that we're concerned about this and don't want it to affect our relationships."
He said it was a sad loss for the community, and hoped the bell would be found.
Police confirmed they were making inquiries into a report of a theft sometime between 7 and 11 November.
They said anyone with information could report it to the police online or call 105 using the reference number 251112/1495.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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