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Police have recovered two paintings by colonial-era artist Gottfried Lindauer stolen during a burglary five years ago.
The Lindauer paintings were stolen from an Auckland art gallery in an April 2017 ram raid.
Auckland City CIB Detective Inspector Scott Beard says police were contacted by an intermediary, who sought to return the paintings on behalf of others.
Police have reopened the investigation into the burglary and are waiting for forensic inquiry results to come back.
The 1884 portraits title Chief Ngātai-Raure and Chieftainess Ngātai-Raure depict rangatira from Ngaiterangi.
They were set to be auctioned at the International Art Centre in Parnell when they were taken from the gallery window in a ram raid in April 2017.
Gallery director Richard Thomson says the owner has been informed and the paintings are in safe keeping.
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