Man and his dog bringing smiles to Christchurch

Tony Karauria and his dog Rhoda travel quake-ravaged Christchurch in his 1942 Ford Willys Jeep which was rebuilt two years ago. Photo / NZPA

An army enthusiast and his dog have been bringing smiles to the faces of wary Christchurch residents with their quirky roadshow.

Tony Karauria and his bespectacled dog, Rhoda, have been driving around the quake-ravaged city in his 1942 Ford Willys Jeep, which was rebuilt two years ago, with the intention of brightening people's days.

"The whole idea was to cheer people up. I might just go down to the shop or to the mall and park the vehicle in the front and the next thing I come out and there's heaps of people taking photos, standing next to the jeep, and my dog puts her head on their shoulder still with her glasses on, so they all seem to be happy.

"It makes people smile so I feel like I've achieved what I set out to."

Mr Karauria dedicates the rebuilt jeep to the Maori Battalion's D Company, in which two of his uncles served.

- NZPA