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A statue of British explorer and navigator Captain Cook has been vandalised in a “politically motivated attack.”
The statue in Christchurch’s Victoria Square was tagged on Tuesday night, while Cook’s nose was severed on Thursday night.
Christchurch City Council Acting Head of Parks Rupert Bool said “the tagging appears to be politically motivated messaging.
“We were also hit again last night. They have damaged the statue grinding on the face.
We have been working with police on this and are putting a security guard on site.”
A police spokesperson told Chris Lynch Media police received a report of a statue that has been damaged in Armagh Street.
“Overnight on Tuesday, the statue was sprayed with paint and on Thursday night the nose was reported to have been removed.
The matter is being assessed for further lines of enquiry.”
Cook is best known for his voyages that led to the mapping and exploration of the east coast of Australia, the discovery and mapping of New Zealand, and extensive exploration of the Pacific Ocean.
