They were revealed to the public less than two weeks ago, but the bronze Hairy Maclary sculptures on Tauranga's waterfront have already drawn thousands of people into the city centre.
After their unveiling on Thursday, July 30, Tauranga City Council's four pedestrian counters on The Strand recorded a total of 13,552 passes between the official opening and the following Monday morning.
Crowds gather on The Strand to view the new Hairy Maclary sculptures. Photo: File.
The counter figure for the entire month of July was 29,161.
'Due to limitations of the counter technology these are approximate figures,” says city council communications advisor Marcel Currin.
'But it is safe to say that we saw two weeks' worth of pedestrian traffic generated over just four days.
'We normally do monthly readings, but they did a before and after reading for the Hairy Maclary weekend.”
The figures are approximate because the counters won't always distinguish between one person and a group of people. They also make no distinction between the same person entering and leaving.
There are also no counters at the Dive Crescent end of The Strand.
6 comments
One take on it
Posted on 10-08-2015 14:20 | By Roadkill
But really the prime reason would be that many just can not believe that huge cost, so have to see what all the fuss is about. Once seen they then become a bit dazed and confused and end up waling around in circles for a while until the fog clears. That then would mean some 10-20 circuits each, the real numbers would be a fraction of that desired, the fogging effect is the cause of the over stated numbers here. In fact the photo shows clearly that there is but a handful of people there, certainly not thousands anyway.
Another take on it
Posted on 10-08-2015 15:31 | By Pantsonfire
Maybe Rapture needs to take his or her children or grandchildren along to see what all the fuss is about... (PS you can avoid being officially counted by entering via the Dive Crescent end.)
@Pantsonfire.....
Posted on 10-08-2015 16:42 | By Jimmy Ehu
and another take on it, sustain the numbers until this time next year!!!
Marcel Currin
Posted on 10-08-2015 20:26 | By Accountable
It is interesting to note Council is happy to publicize the foot traffic numbers for Hairy Maclary or any other event they are involved with but what about the promised figures for the southern waterfront car parking area and the cost to the businesses through the loss of this valuable car park? Can your figures prove the need to continue to keep it as the waste land it now is and why it should not be reinstated as a valuable car parking area for the continued viability of the CBD businesses? Does Council really care about the businesses in the CBD? I think not.
Na that could be right eh
Posted on 10-08-2015 21:45 | By Dazed and Confused
Only 45000 people went to see the Rollin Stones preform in Auckland. So its easy to see that many people going to look at brass in Tauranga . Easy
Devon Campbell
Posted on 11-08-2015 12:10 | By MARAUDING MOUSE
The fascination with this and the crazed frenzy like behavior over Wharf Street and the businesses that reside there would very much say that they intend wiping out the CBD except for themselves in a crystal palace and the few bronze mould on the waterfront. When the end game is reached and nothing is left they scourge will seep outwards looing for more victims.
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