Editorial: Hairy Maclary a crowd pleaser

The statues in themselves are probably not enough to draw people to Tauranga but, added to the long list of other family-friendly activities. Photo: Andrew Warner

I have to admit I was a bit critical of the years of fundraising and the $660,000 price tag for the Hairy Maclary statues, which now take pride of place on Tauranga's waterfront - but since seeing them myself, I'm a convert.

One sunny Saturday recently, my husband and I decided to have a wander down around the waterfront and check out the changes, including the Hairy Maclary sculptures.

I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw.

There were dozens of people crowding around the sculptures.

Almost every dog had a child sitting on its back while parents took photos.

It is definitely a drawcard and everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves.

I enjoyed reminiscing about reading the books growing up, while I tried to name each of the animals. The books are Kiwi classics for a reason. Even as adults, they hold some appeal.

Not only are they a great attraction for families who want to amuse their children, the workmanship of each of the statues is incredible.

Even in bronze you can make out the spot on Bottomley Potts, the dalmatian.

Muffin McLay really looks as though he is bounding towards you, with his fur blowing back as he runs. True to his name, Slinky Malinki is hiding on the edge of the fray, ready to leap in, and Scarface Claw really does look like the toughest tom in town.

In Saturday's Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, Tourism Bay of Plenty marketing manager Abby Hadfield said the sculptures were a "unique selling point" for the town, with both domestic and international visitors.

Not too long ago I would have been sceptical but, having seen them myself, I can now imagine families visiting the area enjoying them too.

The statues in themselves are probably not enough to draw people to Tauranga but, added to the long list of other family-friendly activities, I can see they definitely add appeal. It will only leave people with a better experience of the city and make them more likely to come back.

In August, pedestrian counters noted about 32,000 passes to the Hairy Maclary and Friends sculptures.

If you weren't one of them, I highly recommend a visit on a sunny day.