NZ Bear Hunt: Rotorua bear's costumes a community spectacle

Teddy in costumes in Springfield. Photo / Supplied

A human-sized teddy bear wearing dress-ups has become a lockdown landmark in Springfield.

Mr Bear has spent his days on the deck of his family home, for the past six weeks.

He has worn something new each morning, ranging from a police uniform, to a kapa haka costume or even rock climbing gear for abseiling off the edge.

Image 1 of 17: Mr Bear had a new costume each day.

Tak Mutu, who lives with Mr Bear, said the bear's public appearances started for the NZ Bear Hunt.

His family saw an "awesome couple of teddies" in their neighbourhood.

"One was dressed up as an old man and the other was riding a motorbike. We loved it and thought it would be great to have something at our house that people could come and check out with their kids.

"We started changing its outfit every now and again and it became our little morning ritual ... It turns out there were heaps of people teddy bear hunting."

Eventually people started coming to the street just to see Mr Bear's new daily attire.

"That was all the motivation we needed so we kept on finding new costumes.

Some passersby have told Mutu the bear encouraged them "to get out and go walking with their kids".

Some stopped to take photos of their children with the bear in the background.

Others, who didn't have children, have also looked forward to seeing it each day.

"There was one lady who said it was one of the highlights to her day because it brings so much positivity. That was a pretty humbling thing to hear considering it was just a dressed-up teddy bear, but I guess sometimes it is the little things that make the difference."

Mutu tried to photograph the costumes each day but said it was hard to pick a favourite.

Teddy in costumes in Springfield. Photo / Supplied

"Biking and snowboarding bear were pretty awesome ... Anzac teddy was probably my favourite too because it was an amazing dawn service on the streets of Springfield with one of our neighbours reciting 'For the Fallen' and then someone else playing the Last Post.

"It was a pretty touching moment."

Today'sappearance is Mr Bear's last as he and his family need to start getting ready to return to normal life and work.

"In a time where nothing is normal, it was nice to be able to do something little that made a few people smile and feel like normal again."