Tauranga's waterfront Hairy Maclary sculpture project received a cash injection today thanks to Tourism Bay of Plenty in partnership with ASB Bank and Farmer Motor Group.

The three-tired $5000 donation will go towards $91,000 still needed to fund the $800,000 project to install the bronze cast statues on Tauranga's waterfront.

Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell, Farmer Auto Village's Mike Farmer, ASB North Island Regional Manager Mark Duhig and Kristin Dunne from Tourism BOP.

The project is a storybook scene of permanent bronze sculptures featuring Hairy Maclary and some of his famous friends – Scarface Claw, Slinky Malinki, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts, Schnitzel von Krumm, Bitzer Maloney and Zachary Quack.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Rhys Arrowsmith is urging businesses, as well as the wider community who share an interest 'in growing a vibrant and creative future for the Bay to give what they can to see the characters take their place on Tauranga's waterfront”.

'We are so proud that Dame Lynley is from our city, and this initiative is a fantastic way to honour her literary talent in an enduring and entertaining style for all to enjoy into the future,” says Rhys.

'The Hairy Maclary series has national and international fame, and the sculptures will become a focal point of our city's waterfront, and we really hope they can come to life in in time for Hairy Maclary's 31st birthday in September this year.”

The partnership with ASB Bank and Farmer Motor Group to donate $5000 was agreed as a great opportunity to collectively support the local community, and that would benefit the wider Bay area.

This week donations were made by Leigh Crockford of Crockford Real Estate, Philip Hunt of Ray White, Frank Vosper Reality and Phoenix Bar on The Strand. KPMG also donated $1000 towards the project.

Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell hopes the project will be a public art statement for the waterfront everyone can enjoy.

'Whereas most public bronze sculptures pay tribute to the lives and accomplishments of historical figures, the Hairy Maclary and Friends sculptures showcase storybook characters very much alive in the hearts and minds of children and adults today.”

Fundraising for this unique project has been underway for the last four years, however it is still in need of more funding. Turf is expected to be turned on August 10 to begin a four-week installation of the sculptures.

The sculptures are completed, but the short fall of $91,000 is still needed. Donations can be made on the dedicated website here