Homage to Rotorua Harawene dog: second bronze sculpture to be revealed after theft

Fiona Cairns, who was involved in the first fundraising mission, said it would be fantastic to see Harawene back where it belongs.

“I want to show these people who took the last one that we’re still here and we’re angry that it was stolen and we want it to stay right where it is.”

She said it was unacceptable to steal the sculpture and it was up to the community to protect it.

“This is Ngāti Whakaue land where it is and if they steal, they are also imposing a culture when they do that kind of thing.”

She said the bronze was worth it, but the cost was in the time and process required to make a quality bronze sculpture.

Cairns said the community was “very grateful” to Cato for paying for Andrews’ expertise.

She said she expected there to be a good crowd at Wednesday’s opening, but asked everyone present to be careful as Te Ngae Road was a busy area.

The police should be notified to help with traffic management.

The first tribute to Harawene was erected following a $10,000 community-led fundraising mission. He paid tribute to the much-loved terrier cross lost after she was suspected of being run over.

Its theft this year sparked a public outcry, when Cato came forward and offered to finance the replacement.

Harawene ran away from her owner and spent her life sitting on the side of a busy highway, watching traffic. She did not allow anyone to approach her, but she was fed daily by local residents, who also built a small shelter for dogs.

There was an outpouring of emotions following Harawene’s disappearance, presumed to have been run over, in April 2008.

Harawene’s statue was unveiled at the site of the Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands, just over a year after her disappearance.

A plaque describes the statue as a “memorial of affection” to Harawene, “a treasured pet of the people of Rotorua”.

The statue was separated from the rock it stood on and only its paws remained.

The missing statue was reported to the police, but no one was charged with its theft.

When Cato offered to pay for the re-creation of the statue, the original plaster casts made by the original sculptor, the late Fridtjof Hanson of Taranaki, were taken out of storage and sculptor Andrews got to work.

The outcry following the theft was such that Hong Kong pilot Ross Dawson, an animal lover who was born and raised in Taupō, offered a reward of US$5,000 for the safe return or information leading to the conviction of the thief or thieves of the stolen statue of Harawene but no one came forward.

Dawson, who funds many animal charities, was born and raised in Taupō but has not lived in New Zealand for 40 years.

Coincidentally, he was in Rotorua on Monday but was unable to stay until Wednesday for the public reveal.

He told the Rotorua Daily Post he went to the roadside spot where the memorial stone stood to “pay his respects.”

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has worked as a reporter for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, mainly covering police, justice, human interest and social issues.