A new home is being sought for a large metal dragon sculpture ordered off its perch in Mount Maunganui’s Pilot Bay by Tauranga City Council.

Graham and Carol Foote, the couple behind the mysterious late-night installation, said the council had been surprisingly supportive, despite the sculpture breaching bylaws.

“The council are very supportive and want to see if they can keep the sculpture in Tauranga – just not where it is, as it could interfere with infrastructure,” said Graham.

Positive

“But they’ve been really accommodating and positive. Honestly, I can’t praise them enough. They’re asking: ‘How can we help?’ and they’ve been great to work with.

“The council staff are totally the opposite to what most of us think. These guys are very modern, and I’m amazed. I don’t want people knocking them because they are not that sort of team. This is a new-generation council that is really trying hard to listen to the public and I believe they are listening.”

Dragon sculpture owners Graham and Carol Foote in Commons Ave. Photo / Brydie Thompson

The sculpture, a 1.2m-tall dragon made entirely from scrap-metal vehicle parts, appeared in late August atop a 1.5-tonne rock at the corner of Commons Ave and The Mall – with a view across Pilot Bay.

The statue was installed without council permission, transported under the cover of darkness from the Footes’ Pukehina property.

The 1.2m steampunk dragon atop a 1.5-tonne rock nestled amongst shrubs on council-owned land at the corner of Commons Ave and The Mall in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Handcrafted (

Originally purchased as a birthday gift for Carol from Pyes Pā’s Art of Outdoors, the piece was handcrafted by South African-based artists using recycled materials such as bolts, car parts, padlocks and horseshoes.

Despite the couple’s offer to gift and maintain the statue, the council ruled it in breach of Tauranga’s Street Use and Public Places Bylaw and said it did not meet the requirements of its Civic Art Policy or Public Art Framework. A letter from council noted the piece, while appreciated, lacked the “cultural or artistic significance specific to the Tauranga area” required for permanent public placement.

Graham said while they understood the decision, it hasn’t dampened their hope to keep the dragon on display – just in a more suitable location.

“Maybe placing it in the pond at Coronation Park as the water creates a natural barrier, or even outside the Mount Maunganui Library – though that would need a two-metre stand so people can’t climb on it.”

He’s also approached some Mount-based organisations and private landowners.

“Most of the places we’ve asked have said ‘no’ for various reasons. That’s okay – everyone has their own space and rules.”

Offers received

The couple have also received offers to relocate the sculpture to museums and properties in Auckland, Wānaka, Ohakune, Ōhauiti and Katikati.

Graham and Carol Foote with Jen Scouler Graham and Carol Foote with Tauranga City Council Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular at the dragon sculpture in Commons Ave, Mount Maunganui. Photo / Brydie Thompson.

In the meantime, the dragon has been granted a temporary reprieve while the Footes work through options. A new, more attractive safety fence – on loan from Tuff Trailers in Pāpāmoa – now surrounds the sculpture.

“I’m thinking of making a formal application to the council for this piece of art to be embraced, taken into their custody, and placed somewhere official,” said Graham.

His preference is for the dragon to stay close to its current location.

“I think it complements the area – especially with the dragon boat racing and being near the water. It would be really cool to keep it around the Mount.”

The sculpture has garnered a wave of public support, with locals contacting elected officials to express their desire to “save the dragon”.

The dragon, made from scrap metal and sitting on a large rock, pictured at night at the end of Commons Ave, near Pilot Bay. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Most commenters responding to The Weekend Sun’s previous story support the dragon sculpture as a creative, community-spirited gift and view it as being unfairly removed by what they perceive to be a rigid, out-of-touch council, while a minority cite cultural inappropriateness, safety concerns and the importance of following rules.

91% want to save it

Tauranga Deputy Mayor and Mount Maunganui ward councillor Jen Scoular said she’s received numerous messages from the community in support of the artwork. On September 12, she launched a poll on her Facebook page “Save the dragon or slay the dragon”, with 91% so far voting to save it.

“I’m enjoying the interaction, hearing from our people to ‘save the dragon’,” said Scoular. She’s decided it’s a female dragon.

Tauranga City Council Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular with the dragon sculpture. Photo / Brydie Thompson

“I like that our people have got behind it,” Scoular said. “Lots of the texts I received said that it’s lovely in tough times to have something that makes them smile.

“When I went to see her, she made me smile too. I like that our people are sharing their positive views wanting to save the dragon.”

On the other side she was aware bylaws needed to be considered.

“It sounds like there are a couple of great options to keep the dragon at the Mount but move her to a more acceptable spot, where hopefully we can still smile when we go past her,” Scoular said.

Name it!

The Footes are offering $100 “Name the Dragon” cash prize for the best name submitted to and chosen by the Weekend Sun team.

Those who want to enter names should email: rosalie.liddlecrawford@nzme.co.nz with their full names, contact details and their name suggestion. Entries close on Tuesday, October 7.