The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Covid 19 coronavirus: Taranaki farmer steps up creativity for viral teddy bear hunt

By Belinda Feek
Reporter·NZ Herald·
25 Mar, 2020 08:11 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand after 50 more coronavirus cases were confirmed today.
digibanner

A Taranaki farmer has added some creative complexity to the nationwide teddy bear hunt currently going viral.

Bruce Nickel's teddy bear isn't at his front window; it's at the front of his Normanby property and prior to the country's lockdown, would have been a double take for motorists as they drove by.

However, it's still garnering interest online after he put a photo up on his Facebook page this week.

Taranaki Federated Farmers has also shared it, doing a shout out to other rural folk to see if they can compete with Nickel's creativity.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

READ MORE:
• Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown: Jacinda Ardern defends decision not to quarantine everyone arriving into NZ
• Covid 19 coronavirus lockdown: Whole of New Zealand in self-isolation in battle against disease
• Covid 19 coronavirus: Police encountering people 'who aren't aware' of NZ's lockdown - Mike Bush
• Covid 19 coronavirus: Frontline doctors prepare for 'what's coming' by sending kids away

Nickel said the bear only took him about 20 minutes to make. It had been at the front of his property for the past couple of weeks but he had to take it down the other day as its head fell off in high winds.

This teddy bear was created by Taranaki farmer Bruce Nickel, adding to the large collection of bears popping up around the country. Photo / Bruce Nickel
This teddy bear was created by Taranaki farmer Bruce Nickel, adding to the large collection of bears popping up around the country. Photo / Bruce Nickel

The hay bale creations are nothing new. He'd made all sorts for the past six or so years including a tractor and trailer, planes, cows and bulls

"I make one every year. Make them for the kids, grandkids seem to like it. It's good fun."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The teddy bear hunt was instigated by Debby Hoffman who started the page We're Not Scared - NZ Bear Hunt in a bid to get children to look out for bears in their community while getting exercise.

Amara Jane Halcombe-Blackmore stands proudly with her teddy hanging in the window of her New Plymouth home. Photo / Abby Blackmore
Amara Jane Halcombe-Blackmore stands proudly with her teddy hanging in the window of her New Plymouth home. Photo / Abby Blackmore

It's even caught the attention of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who yesterday said in her press conference that Kiwis were welcome to take children for walks in the neighbourhood for fresh air and suggested they try to spot teddy bears on the windows.

"They might look for teddy bears in windows but as they pass people, keep your distance, don't talk to others, just stay within your bubble," she said.

"And if you're in Wellington and you're walking in a local neighbourhood, you might see one in my window."

ALERT_STAGES
ALERT_STAGES

She's asked people across the country to put a teddy bear in their window and put a pin on the site's map so children can take part in a safe game while at a distance.

Taranaki farmer Bruce Nickel has upped the ante on the 'Ted in the window/Ted Hunt' campaign sweeping the world. The...

Posted by Federated Farmers on Tuesday, 24 March 2020
This teddy bear was created by Taranaki farmer Bruce Nickel, adding to the large collection of bears popping up around the country. Photo / Bruce Nickel
This teddy bear was created by Taranaki farmer Bruce Nickel, adding to the large collection of bears popping up around the country. Photo / Bruce Nickel

She earlier told the Herald more than 1000 people across the country have dropped pins so children can locate and tick off the teddies they've seen in different locations.

The Government has reiterated that, while it is asking to Kiwis to stay home as much as possible, people are allowed to go outside for walks and exercise, either on their own or with the people they are self-isolating with.

New Zealanders are putting teddy bears in windows to make children smile. Photo / Supplied
New Zealanders are putting teddy bears in windows to make children smile. Photo / Supplied

We have a new, user-friendly map! Thanks to Sam and Christoper at Traverse Services for making it happen. Follow the...

Posted by NZ Bear Hunt on Tuesday, 24 March 2020

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

Prices continue to slide in latest GDT

01 Jul 09:05 PM
The Country

'Apprehensive': Fears as fresh deluge forecast for storm-hit south

01 Jul 08:53 PM
The Country

Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

01 Jul 08:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Prices continue to slide in latest GDT

Prices continue to slide in latest GDT

01 Jul 09:05 PM

It's the largest decline in the Global Dairy Trade Auction this calendar year.

'Apprehensive': Fears as fresh deluge forecast for storm-hit south

'Apprehensive': Fears as fresh deluge forecast for storm-hit south

01 Jul 08:53 PM
Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

01 Jul 08:00 PM
Premium
Could a lab blunder replace 1080 poison and solve NZ’s rabbit plague?

Could a lab blunder replace 1080 poison and solve NZ’s rabbit plague?

01 Jul 07:15 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP