Hairy Maclary and friends.

Jo Bryant, ,

Dame Lynley Dodd  is quite a hero to New Zealanders and I suspect to children and grown-ups everywhere who have had the incredible pleasure of reading her Hairy Maclary books.

Recently in Tauranga an outdoor exhibition opened of sculptures of some of her most beloved characters. I went to see them and fell in instant love. I can’t wait to go back once the grass has grown and they take away the barriers. While I was there it was with delight I watched toddlers and children squeal with pleasure and caress and cuddle these beautiful works of art. I noticed a few Mums & Dads give them a quick pat while the kids were busy.

If you want to learn more about the sculptures click here.

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These are some of the images I took when I visited. I hope to go back at night when the sculptures are lit up and take some more. For now…I hope you enjoy them, and if you don’t know the stories you might be persuaded to click on the links and discover their delights. With a little luck you might get one of the books to read to your children or grandchildren. I promise you will never be sorry you did.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy.
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy.
Hercules Morse as big as a horse with pittery pattery Zachary Quack.
Hercules Morse as big as a horse with pittery pattery Zachary Quack.
Bottomley Potts covered in spots.
Bottomley Potts covered in spots.
Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay.
Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay.
Bitzer Maloney all skinny and bony.
Bitzer Maloney all skinny and bony.
Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum.
Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum.
Scarface Claw the toughest tom in town.
Scarface Claw the toughest tom in town.
Scarface is not to be trifled with guys !
Scarface is not to be trifled with guys !
Hairy, Bitzer, Hercules & Zachery.
Hairy, Bitzer, Hercules & Zachery.
Slinky Malinki was blacker than black.
Slinky Malinki was blacker than black.

Of course if you are ever in Tauranga…you must pay these guys a visit !!!!

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

37 Comments

  3. Oh how magical Jo! Children and adults EVERYWHERE love Hairy Maclary.
    How gorgeous is the face on Hairy’s sculpture?

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  4. “scarface claw, the toughest tom in town …” Always my favourite. My son loved the Hairy Maclary books and we’ve been buying them for nieces and nephews overseas for the last few years.

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          1. 🙂 Jacqui Clarke does (or did anyway) a stage show of Hairy Maclary and friends with lots of singing and dancing. I remember going to it when the boy-child was about four (so a while ago now). The kids absolutely loved it, and to be honest, so did the mums!

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  6. I love them Jo and I’ve never even heard of the books. Just added to my A wish list to remind me near Christmas, my two year G baby will love it 🙂

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  8. Really good photos, you have captured their characters perfectly. We will be back that way in October so look forward to visiting them. Have you moved house yet?

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        1. Please do. I would love to meet you. There is always a spare bed for a few nights at my house. And a very enthusiastic host willing to show you around and cook !!! Even the fur babies love getting visitors.

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  9. How wonderfully life like are these sculptures Jo.. wonderful captures of both Dogs and Cats at play and your photo’s doing wonderful justice to them all.. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend xxx
    Sue ❤ and so good to see you posting again xxx

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    1. Pulled a few weeds so far, today is going to be wet, so I plan to spend some time working on a few things on the computer. Hopefully there will be enough of a break in the weather that I can take Chevvy for at least a quick walk. There is a KIngfisher I have taken to stalking in the hope that one day I will get a really good image of it.

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