A rare indoor plant has been stolen from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens amid a boom in the houseplant industry.
The variegated monstera is hard to come by in New Zealand due to biosecurity laws, making it prized among Kiwi houseplant lovers.
Christchurch plant enthusiast Bridget Rennie told Stuff that even a cutting of the plant could fetch NZ$3,000 (£1,500).
She added: “The leaves are like fingerprints, no two are the same. It’s a very rare, very slow-growing plant. I only know of two people who own that plant.
“I’m angry, I’m disappointed, I’m really sad, every emotion you can imagine.”
Wolfgang Bopp, director of the Botanic Gardens told Stuff that the thief must have been "quite athletic" as they had to have scaled a high safety glass wall to reach the prized plant.
The gardens had begun installing security cameras at the time of the theft, but they were not operational when the daylight theft took place on September 19.
He said that the plant possessed "particularly nice" vegetation.
Mr Bopp added: “The thing I find sad is due to the selfishness of one or two individuals we can no longer share this plant with the public. It was there to be enjoyed.”
