A TECT bail-out has brought the Hairy Maclary bronzes out of storage and will see the figures finally take up their residencies on The Strand next month.
Brigitte Wuest will begin installing the sculptures next to the playground in early June, ready for the official unveiling in July.
Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell with one of the bronze sculptures. Photo: File.
TECT, which is a foundation partner in the venture, is paying the $85,000 required to finish the project, bringing their total financial commitment to $185,000.
The energy consumer trust put up the initial $30,000 seed money to get things off the ground, and donated another $70,000 in February 2014 to move the project forward.
City Care also donated $100,000, while other major funders include the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and a collective donation from three of the Tauranga Rotary Clubs.
The entire cost is set at $800,000, but a press release today states that Creative Tauranga has had to raise $181,000. In June last year that was down to just $140,000.
When asked about TECT's latest donation, Creative Tauranga Chairman Grant Sowter says: 'It's wonderful they have come through again for us at the end.”
The bronze sculptures are of Dame Lynley Dodd's character Hairy Maclary and eight of his friends – Scarface Claw, Slinky Malinki, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts, Schnitzel von Krumm, Bitzer Maloney and Zachary Quack.
TECT Chairman Bill Holland is pleased the project is nearing completion.
'From the outset, TECT recognised the potential benefit to Tauranga of the Hairy Maclary sculptures and we came on board as The Foundation Partner,” explains Bill.
'I am delighted that with the help of Tauranga City Council we have been able to help make this dream a reality.”
Creative Tauranga Chief Executive Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell says the sculptures will create a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
'The sculptures will be a fantastic addition to the family activities already on the waterfront,” says Tracy.
'I look forward to seeing the reaction of the children when we show the sculptures installed together for the first time.”
Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby says the sculptures will become an iconic tourist attraction.
'I have no doubt our new sculptures will become nationally and internationally significant icons of the Bay of Plenty,” says Stuart.
52 comments
A little excessive
Posted on 12-05-2015 13:54 | By yourthumb
I'm all for public art, and I love the fact that it is spreading (even if I don't like every piece). But the amount of money needed here is beyond ridiculous.
The Box
Posted on 12-05-2015 14:00 | By YOGI BEAR
Can someone please close the lid quick as before the escape.
yourthumb
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:19 | By YOGI BEAR
You are right, that has been my view before this scam started.
Rasied money?
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:21 | By YOGI BEAR
What a joke that is, all the money has come from Council coffers one way or another, about the only other outfit suckered into this was TECT and that is all publics money to. TECT is Trustpower, Trustpower has most of its customers in the BOP area and that is just another indirect way of extracting money of TCC ratepayers and pretending it is charity
Hairy Mclary
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:22 | By socantor01
By yourthumb has obviously never been involved in commissioning bronze sculptures. They are indeed expensiveI think they are a marvellous concept and welcome seeing them in the flesh, as it were!
Ridiculous ripping
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:24 | By ROCCO
This was nothing like what we were told would happen and 3 years later still a shortfall and public has been plundered.
Tired Dog
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:26 | By YOGI BEAR
Must be warn out already listening to this lot boosting about what is only going to cost heaps to everyone else
UNBELIEVEABLE
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:37 | By CONDOR
The number of porkies told about the fundraising here will turn the dogs into pig dogs a bit like Pinocchios nose.
Mongrel machinations and munching
Posted on 12-05-2015 16:54 | By kellbell
Everyone associated with the funding debacle regarding this thing should hang their heads in shame,The citizens of Tauranga have been completely blindsided and valuable community funding has been diverted into this self indulgence.
Well Done TECT
Posted on 12-05-2015 17:47 | By carpedeum
Great contributers to the Community in so many ways.
carpedeum
Posted on 12-05-2015 18:07 | By YOGI BEAR
Sure that sounds great, sadly it is everyone else's money, not theirs
Are my math wrong?
Posted on 12-05-2015 20:47 | By Dazed and Confused
So they came up with about 41 k by passing the hat and the rest came from corporate and ratepayer sponsors?
Someones
Posted on 12-05-2015 21:27 | By Capt_Kaveman
milking this to the max
Wondering
Posted on 13-05-2015 08:48 | By nerak
what next amazing must have project will be dreamed up, and how much the ratepayers will be forced to pay. Priorities first- but then TCC don't know what that means, obviously. Sack em all, and the Creative lot.
They are coming
Posted on 13-05-2015 09:02 | By astex
WOW! I can see people in London booking their tickets to rush here already. NOT! This one relatively insignificant, waste of money, will not bring any more people to the area. The locals may take a peek once or twice and it will be ignored afterwards.
Backflip after backflip?
Posted on 13-05-2015 12:53 | By BullShtAlert
If I remember correctly, during this entire saga, both the council (us ratepayers) and Tect have had to cough up significantly more funds than originally required. Is their any accountability over this?
Dazed and Confused
Posted on 13-05-2015 14:18 | By YOGI BEAR
Absolutely right
Miled again
Posted on 13-05-2015 14:19 | By YOGI BEAR
Yes public coffers have been pillaged yet again for the arty brigade. Really getting down to it is that this is actually commercially based not art for Artz sake. Looks like the ability to "create" is long gone, back to just copying.
hairy fairy
Posted on 13-05-2015 14:27 | By Me again
A good place for those fairies maybe out with the PA!!. Then these tourists that are coming in droves can have 'two' for the price of one. Oh and a donation box might be good too, pay for them.!!!!
Creative and mournful pooches
Posted on 13-05-2015 15:54 | By CONDOR
@BullShtAlert -of course there is no accountability they hide behind others skirts and @Dazed and Confused -you would be lucky if they contributed anything and god only knows what the final cost might be for this grandiose little project.
grandiose little project
Posted on 16-05-2015 18:00 | By YOGI BEAR
CONDOR, exactly it, the planned funding was to pay for it, installed, and all future maintenance and costs however the fund raising has been very challenging as reflected in the repeat visit to the faithful handout easy pickings departments such as TECT and TCC who between them have provided virtually all the money raised so far. This all despite the fact that TC said that they would not contribute, yet that has turned out not to be so, what a complete TCC ratepayer RORT.
Can no see?
Posted on 17-05-2015 10:57 | By YOGI BEAR
Where money has been "raised", a hand out from TECT and TCC (all in its various ways) is not fund raising. So in end result the arty brigade have got everyone else paying for it all again. Well done TCC they ignored you, ignored the decisions made and have have gazumpted you again.
Tauranga City Council
Posted on 21-05-2015 07:59 | By Kenworthlogger
Well when it comes to electing new councilors and a new mayor lets kick the lot out again. Remember debarcles like this one when voting!!
$$$$$
Posted on 24-05-2015 20:17 | By Kenworthlogger
Just wondering how much money Robin donated as he loves art...
Cultural Peasantry,
Posted on 25-05-2015 12:46 | By robin bell
represented here by the usual grizzling groupies, seeks to overthrow a tribute to Tauranga's only Internationally recognised childrens author.What a miserable bunch of "scrooges" you all are. Thanks for inviting me in kenny, I relish another crack at the likes of you lot. Robin Bell.
So Robin
Posted on 25-05-2015 17:54 | By Kenworthlogger
Can you answer the question then. How much of your own money did you donate?
It all depends,
Posted on 26-05-2015 12:07 | By robin bell
Kenny. My "donation" is via T.E.C.T. Like you and your miserable friends, I could complain that such donations are a waste of money. However I rejoice in the knowledge that hundreds if not thousands of children (and adults)will gain pleasure from our caring. You on the other hand think otherwise. How's it go kenny? kick em all out, get rid of them all. Problem with that is, If we do we end up with people like you.Ain't gonna happen kenny. Robin Bell.
Robin Bell
Posted on 03-06-2015 16:42 | By YOGI BEAR
Caring is a nice thing I am sure, but how about you use your money to "care" about the things you care about. Then I can do the same, that's fair isn't it?
Well said Yogi
Posted on 03-06-2015 18:25 | By Kenworthlogger
But clearly people like Robin like to spend other peoples money not their own.... Robin is looking more like the "scrooge"
What's up Doc ? Lemons or dogs
Posted on 04-06-2015 17:24 | By kellbell
If the Bell Boy supports these pieces of nonsense then there is definitely something amiss with the whole cats rats and dogs concept and its dubious implementation.
Lemons crossed with Mushrooms?
Posted on 05-06-2015 03:06 | By YOGI BEAR
Then there are a few rats, mice and the likes hanging about. Wouldn't be surprised if there were a couple of melons or three as well heaved into the fray here and there.
No Doc needed?
Posted on 05-06-2015 09:36 | By YOGI BEAR
They are all lemons on legs, and lemons waiting to happen and they have.
Dame Lynley Dodd
Posted on 05-06-2015 17:55 | By Kenworthlogger
So how much money did Dame Lynley Dodd donate of her own money seeing it is promoting her private business here? Will the council promote my private business???
Community,caring and sharing.
Posted on 08-06-2015 10:37 | By robin bell
Yogi bear,his mates kenny and kelbell all wish to participate in our society, just so long as it costs them nothing. How dare they!!!What gives them (and a few others) the right to decide how our representatives allocate revenue?.They can vote for their extreme selfishness,they can put up candidates for their Mylaw4all party, they can lobby for their "user pays" extremism, just like anyone else. They don't because deep down they know it doesn't work,never did and never will. Robin Bell.
Kenworthlogger
Posted on 08-06-2015 12:29 | By YOGI BEAR
On the money there mate, oh ops the money has gone and been wasted ... Actually the real issue here that gazumpts any common sense and decent decision is the utter and complete desire to have others pay along with a mammoth ego that seeks to create anything possible at the greatest cost possible. Such is the life of a bureaucrat
robin bell
Posted on 09-06-2015 10:39 | By YOGI BEAR
Not right mate, in fact complete wrong as usual. The facts here are that we are all in favour of improvements and better things in the community, what the issue is its all about the waste, nut case ideas that pop off all over the place that cost a fortune every year.
Better things
Posted on 09-06-2015 15:28 | By robin bell
in the community? OR do it YOGI'S WAY!! the difference being, the way it's usually done gives everyone a small bite of "the cherry". Yogi doesn't like that way, it doesn't suit his tight fisted outlook on life.TUFF!!!! Robin Bell.
Totally correct Yogi
Posted on 09-06-2015 17:04 | By Kenworthlogger
Robin you dont seem to know the difference between essential services and entertainment. The council and your rates are meant for infrastructure. It is not councils role to provide entertainment. Imagine if council paid for a huge Nike symbol statue or a giant Colonel Sanders (KFC) statue? And paid $800,000 for it. Everyone would think it is outrageous.... Except Robin.....
Kenworthlogger
Posted on 09-06-2015 19:18 | By robin bell
Sorry your just not up to it.Nike and the Colonel are U.S.icons,why would little old Tauranga erect statues to them.Dame Lynley on the other hand is a local icon,(are you kenny?)Gov't, local and central, have a duty to cater to the well being of all its citizens, including children.Have you ever taken the time to work out your miserable contribution to these permanent works of art kenny? I doubt it, if you had you would feel ashamed, I'm sure.Or would you? Robin Bell.
robin bell
Posted on 10-06-2015 00:25 | By YOGI BEAR
Why not for The Colonel any U.S. icon, even a UK icon or three. Why not, the hairy fairy things are a commercial thing, Maori have heaps of icons paid from public money what is the difference here? None of them are local, none contribute anything to Tauranga nor the wider BOP area, but in all cases they are leeching from the public purse when none are even local, not even a little bit, not even 7-8%.
robin
Posted on 10-06-2015 04:05 | By Kenworthlogger
It makes no difference what country its from. So let make it a 4 squareman to make robin happy. Make any difference now??? NO. Its still a comercial entity. Id rather see a $800,000 medical centre built for kids! Whats miseable about that Robin?
GTA gets Kiwi makeover
Posted on 10-06-2015 04:19 | By Kenworthlogger
Have a read Robin the Sunlive article named above and read how you are wrong about the KFC thing. Seems Kiwis think its a real bit of kiwiana...
Entertainment?Kenny
Posted on 10-06-2015 08:44 | By robin bell
is only a small part of the issue.Parks,areas of recreation,cycle tracks e.t.c. are a necessary part of renewal for many people,(obviously not you)You have to live in this society,you benefit from the stress release gained from recreation therefore you have to contribute,simple really.Robin Bell.
YOGI'S WAY!
Posted on 10-06-2015 16:15 | By YOGI BEAR
No really in fact I am rejecting the spend up and separatist manner that you support Robin. I know you don't like me saying so, to bad, you are feasting off others without their consent. Go back to Wellington I say.
Kenworthlogger
Posted on 10-06-2015 16:17 | By YOGI BEAR
Infrastructure, the problem is that the bureaucrats classify anything they do as essential and infrastructure. It matter not that it loses heaps, costs heaps or anything else, so Robin is unable to understand that when he wants is not "essential" to anyone else so shouldn't happen as a result.
Whats miseable about that Robin?
Posted on 10-06-2015 16:19 | By YOGI BEAR
Kenny mate, Robin wants the money, that is what all of this is about, he wants it for his purposes, his use and at his whim, we are to have no say if he had his way. Logic, common sense or anything else is all gone west ...
Entertainment v infrastructure?
Posted on 10-06-2015 16:23 | By YOGI BEAR
Kenny you have it sorted, The likes of a concrete waterfront, Elms, art gallery, walkways and so on are all "luxuries". roads and the three waters are essentials and more important that anything else. If a choice is to be made that they come first and nothing else gets done is just fine and how it is. If a bunch of moaners don't like it then go get the money yourself just like the Museum 'lover' community trust, it has completely failed to achieve anything, get the hint Robin?
Robin has gone ding dong
Posted on 10-06-2015 17:33 | By Kenworthlogger
If Robin truely believes in art gallerys and overpriced Hairy Fairy statues he would PUT HIS OWN MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS and donate his OWN money. Then and only then would he have an ounce of credability.
Bah Humbug
Posted on 10-06-2015 18:34 | By carpedeum
Gosh some of you doomsayers really should view The Night Before Christmas - as seen through the eyes of Scrooge !!! He was a grumpy old pennypincher with no thoughts of anything to do with joy and happiness and pleasure either !!!
Robin has gone ding dong,
Posted on 10-06-2015 20:11 | By robin bell
How "creative" of you kenny. Perhaps if you had spent a little time appreciating art, you could look past your bank balance. Maybe you wouldn't need the assistance of YOGI (make it up as you go)BEAR.Just maybe you could take the advice of Carpedeum.Dreams can come true kenny, it just takes the will, spread the load,the right attitude and EVERYONE benefits,try it sometime.Creativity is a learned ongoing process, even for you,too late for YOGI though,SORRY.Robin Bell.
Its simple Carpedeium
Posted on 10-06-2015 20:53 | By Kenworthlogger
When you have a debt like TCCs which is one of the worst in NZ you dont keep on spending otherwise you will go broke. When money in the coffers is overflowing then nice to haves or wants are then ok...
Debt.
Posted on 11-06-2015 09:00 | By robin bell
The world operates in debt kenny.The richest nation the U.S.has the largest debt.California went broke a few yr's ago ( technically).What is really important is debt management,in that you are correct,but the answer is not the draconian methods you demand.User pays in gov't has been shown to be counter productive, progress severely restricted,productivity falls and the system starts to fail. There is no ideal only the refinement of what we have.Expressions of the artistic kind are essential for us all,to one degree or another. Robin Bell.
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