The duchess would become patron of a Tauranga project that honoured Dame Lynley and her contribution to the literary arts, Ms Rudduck-Gudsell said.
The project team was still aiming to have the sculptural installation in place by next July, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first publication of Hairy Maclary.
It would be a global celebration and it would be great for people around the world to realise that Dame Lynley was a New Zealander.
Publicity around the sculpture would correct the impression amongst a lot of overseas readers that Dame Lynley was an English author.
Royal recognition would also provide a timely boost for fundraising, which Ms Rudduck-Gudsell said was "going a bit slower than I would like".
They still had $500,000 to raise.
She said that in the current economic climate, fundraising for something heartwarming like Hairy Maclary was finding it tough against worthy causes like the Christchurch earthquake recovery and life threatening illnesses.
People can donate directly to Creative Tauranga or through the website www.givealittle.com and typing in Hairy Maclary.
People could also make an instant donation by texting hairyto306.