Two men have been charged with rustling after 720 deer and sheep were allegedly stolen from a Central Otago farm.
A 27-year-old Wanaka man and a 36-year-old former Wanaka man, now living in Motueka, will appear in court in January over the alleged theft of around 600 deer and 120 sheep from a Mt Barker farm near Wanaka since 2009.
The pair are facing joint charges that include the theft of farm property.
Detective Dave Evans says the alleged thefts appeared to have taken place between May 2009 until August 2011.
A farmer's complaint in September this year sparked a police investigation.
Mr Evans says the charges related to one farm near Wanaka, although some of the animals alleged to have been stolen belonged to two neighbouring farmers.
He says there did not appear to be a link between the arrested men and other alleged stock thefts in Central Otago.
The pair will appear in Queenstown District Court on January 30.
NZN