Editorial: Answer lies in child's eyes

Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell started a fundraiser to get the Hairy Maclary sculpture set up.

During the past few years several staff members have had their say about the expensive Hairy Maclary statues destined for our waterfront.

Until this week I still had one foot firmly in the "it's a ridiculous amount of money and isn't there something more important we could be spending it on?" camp.

Then I had a long discussion with Creative Tauranga chief executive - and Hairy's biggest advocate - Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell, followed the same day by a chat with Mayor Stuart Crosby.

As soon as they started telling me about cruise ship passengers hoping to see the statues, and the fact they would be globally unique to Tauranga, I lost interest.

I am leaving the Bay of Plenty Times today to go on maternity leave and call it pregnancy hormones but it was the idea of my son or daughter's eyes lighting up when he or she saw the statues that convinced me.

Mr Crosby agreed when I said it seemed the bronze statues might have to be sitting on the waterfront before the critics had any chance of being convinced it had been $750,000 well spent.

Maybe when they see their children and grandchildren playing on them, patting them and talking to them they will understand the vision campaigners like Ms Rudduck-Gudsell have.

I still remember enjoying "'meeting" and having my photo taken with Pania of the Reef on the Napier waterfront as a child. The bronze statue has been in place since 1954 and is among Napier's most recognised and photographed attractions.

I've already been given a copy of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, complete with scruffy little Hairy soft toy. Like the Little Yellow Digger and The Wonky Donkey, it's an essential on any Kiwi kids' bookshelf.

From a child's point of view, seeing favourite story characters life-size will be an exciting and probably unforgettable experience.

If we want local businesses and residents to connect with the project, we need to focus on what it will mean to them and their families.

International interest and recognition may come later, but it won't get the statues out of storage and on to the waterfront.