Katikati’s most iconic sculpture has been damaged once again – but this time by a vehicle collision.

Katikati Open Air Art committee member Steve Graveson confirmed to SunLive that he removed Barry, the Relaxed Typical Kiwi Bloke from his chair outside the Arts Junction at 36 Main Rd on Monday morning after the sculpture was damaged on Sunday night.

Few details were known about the April 27 incident, but it was believed a vehicle hit the sculpture, he said.

“It looks like a vehicle [travelling along SH2 through the township] ran over the rubbish bin near Barry and over top of [neighbouring dog sculpture] Jack and into the corner of Barry on the seat and knocked him over.

“If you look at Barry, the driver must have hit him on the left-hand side because his seat took a lot more damage.”

Police tape was put around the scene until Barry was removed. Graveson said Jack was taken away by police after the accident, but had since been collected by a fellow KOAA member.

The art group was founded in 1989 and has commissioned and maintained the township’s murals and sculptures via its committee.

Barry is now sitting in Graveson’s shed awaiting repair. “I’ve been in communication with Donald Paterson, who lives in Christchurch, who is the original sculptor of Barry, about his repair.”

Barry is now dry and happy inside Steve Graveson’s shed, awaiting repair. Photo / Steve Graveson

Barry’s seat had been taken to Katikati Rural Engineering for repair. “Being steel, it is getting straightened out.”

Barry was installed on Katikati’s Main Rd in 1999, made with sculpture resin, copper and fibreglass by Paterson and modelled on his friend Barry Menzies, of Hamurana.

In 2006, Barry got a mate when Menzies donated the sculpture of Jack the dog and his toy ball as a tribute to the late Colin and June Carlton, the driving forces behind KOAA.

Graveson said he went to check on Barry on Monday after hearing of the accident. “I needed to see what he was like and if he had any cracks – because you don’t want to get water in him because he is not solid. Luckily, I did because we’ve had non-stop rain since.”

Barry had survived with minor injuries. “His main issue is he has a broken elbow, and the lower part of his arm [is damaged] – so he’s got away fairly lightly but it won’t be easy to fix him.”

Graveson’s newest conundrum is who he will call on to repair Jack. “Barry Menzies passed away in 2017. He did all of the steel work on Jack, so I’ve asked Donald [Paterson] who would be good for this repair job.”

Paterson will likely have to travel to Katikati to fix the sculpture. “He’ll have to come up here, I would think, but I’m still finding out ...”

As a result, Graveson said Barry would be absent from Katikati’s Main Rd during his “operation and recovery”. The length of his absence would “hinge on what Donald has on workwise”.

Barry - an adorable figure in a flat cap and comfy shoes perpetually immersed in his newspaper - was installed on Katikati’s Main Rd in 1999. Jack the dog was added in 2006. Photo / NZME

Katikati Open Air Art would bear the cost of repairs “because you can’t insure that type of thing”.

Barry was damaged back in 2008 when vandals tried to wrench the sculpture from its park bench. In 2002, the town was in uproar after Barry was decapitated.

“It did cost several thousand dollars to repair him back then,” Graveson said. “So, if the driver’s insurance does not cover it, then we will have to find the money to repair Barry and Jack this time, and we may need support to do that.”

SunLive has contacted NZ Police for comment on the accident.