So it's becoming official .... Tauranga is going to the dogs.
Congratulations Tracey and team at the Council supported Creative Tauranga, for your ability to cut through the mire of Council red tape.
The completed set of statues will certainly be an attraction just like 'Mountie” the surfer, on the deck of the Mainstreet Office Downtown the Mount. He has become one of the most photographed images at the Mount.
The Mount could have had another six statues featuring attractions of the Mount (promoted by Mount Rotary to recognise 100 years of Rotary) if the hurdles put by council, such as 'they would be a distraction to traffic”' 'not permitted on reserve land”, and the killer blow, 'nothing in the District Plan that allows statues”, could have been jumped. Only through the persistence of Mount Mainstreet did 'Mountie” eventually become a reality.
The seven statues were to be created by Donald Paterson, once referred to by Creative Tauranga as a 'rent-a-sculptor”, even though his creation of 'Barry” in Katikati, and the child statues in Waihi are icons in their own right.
Oh ... by the way, the total cost of the Rotary project was $250,000 with no Council funding. The cost of 'Mountie” to Mainstreet the Mount was $35,000.
How inflation has impacted. $800,000 for Hairy Maclary and his mates? Yeah Right! Hope a plentiful supply of pooper scoopers are included in the cost.

Les Cresswell, Mount Maunganui.