The Thames-Coromandel District Council has a big, bright and beautiful mystery on their hands and needs your help to solve the case.

Under the cover of night a clandestine artist installed a huge steel sculpture featuring a monarch butterfly in a garden on the corner of Jellicoe Cres and (rather appropriately) Pollen St in Thames.

This beautiful steel sculpture featuring a monarch butterfly landed in a garden at the corner of Jellicoe Cres and Pollen St in Thames overnight. Photo: TCDC

TCDC communications officer Rebekah Duffin says the appearance of the sculpture surprised the district council just much as the locals making their morning commute to work.

'It just appeared, we don't know who created it or anything about it,” says Rebekah. 'It would be really great to find out who created this piece.

'We've already had a few people asking us about the piece and even thanking us for it, but we think it should be directed to the artist.”

Rebekah says their plan so far is to keep the sculpture as it was a wonderful piece of art and had been installed in a perfect place.

The sculpture's footings are a bit loose though and the district council would need to do carry out some work to improve its stability.

'I've spoken to the Thames Society of Arts and sent them a photo, so they're going to take a look and see if they recognise the artist through the work.”

An image of the sculpture was posted to the TCDC's Facebook Page and has attracted a number of comments, with all of them expressing their approval of the sculpture.

One commenter posted: 'When I first saw it, I went "Wow". It is just stunning. We have so many beautiful pieces of art in Thames.”

While another added: 'I think it's fantastic, and to now find out that it's been done by an individual is inspirational. It shows we all have the ability to do something positive in our community.”

Are you the mystery artist or know who created this wonderful sculpture?

If you have any information call Thames-Coromandel District Council communications officer Rebekah Duffin on 07-868-0248