The magnificent monarch butterfly sculpture that appeared on the corner of Jellicoe and Pollen Streets last month was created by Stephen Ranger.

Stephen created the sculpture from old steel, nuts bolts, springs and exhaust pipes recycled from Campbell Tubes.

Recently the Thames Coromandel District Council sought help from the public to discover the identity of the then ‘mystery artist'.

'I wanted to donate the sculpture to the community," says Stephen. 'I'm just really happy to have it where everyone can enjoy it.”

This is Stephen's first attempt at a sculpture of this size and he's also offered to maintain the work in order to make sure it keeps looking great, whether it needs painting, or structural repairs.

TCDC Parks and Reserves manager Derek Thompson says they will work with Stephen to ensure all maintenance is done when they change the annuals so they don't have to work around the plants.

'Our gardeners were impressed with the effort Stephen went to,” says Derek, 'to protect the garden and replacing the plants after installation.”

Chief executive David Hammond says council understands the significance of the arts community in the Thames-Coromandel and is in the process of putting together an Arts Strategy.

This strategy will cover how best to acknowledge, nurture, celebrate and showcase the creativity in the Coromandel.

David is welcoming the focus on putting together an Arts Strategy and is looking to host a workshop on the Coromandel for early 2015 with Creative Waikato.

He adds that the workshop would invite arts groups from around the district.

'I want to add a huge thank you to Stephen from the TCDC,” says David. 'We are big fans of public art and enjoy the metal stickmen and now the butterfly.

'We also keep an eye on traffic safety as well to make sure that art isn't in a place where it could distract motorists. If in doubt please ring your local Council office."