Roger Rabbits with Jim Bunny

It was one of those deliciously adorable moments. A wee squirt held aloft by Dad, flapping and shrieking as she eyeballed the cat atop a pole on the Tauranga Waterfront.

Not just any cat but “the toughest tom in town” – a large black cat with the meanest yellow eyes and ears torn from backyard battles. Scarface Claw, arch enemy of Hairy from the dairy book fame.

Flick straight through to page 14: “EEEEEOWWWFFTZ!” yowls Scarface Claw. An intimidating bully that’s globally loved, loathed and feared in equal quantities? And now, rightfully immortalised in bronze atop that pole. Along with half a dozen of his cohorts.

The squirt didn’t really understand her encounter with the cat. Not now, but she will. “We have all the Hairy Maclary books,” said the squirt’s Dad. “And when the time is right…”

So then, for whose benefit were they making this special trip from an out-of-town camping ground to meet Hairy et al? “I suppose mine,” Dad shrugged. They’d just spent one -hour-and-a-half climbing, swinging, sliding, swirling, swerving, swivelling, swaying, to-ing and fro-ing at the new bespoke children’s playground right next door. All red faced, hot and sweaty and played out.

Hairy Mac and a scone

“Just a great place for a family to be,” said Dad. Little more to do now than throw your “goodbye” arms around the neck of Hercules Morse – an English Mastiff  “as big as a horse” and head across the rail tracks to one of the eateries. “We’ll be back,” said Dad. “Put a ring around it.”

And as a visiting ex-pat Mum with a one-year-old old pointed out, Tauranga’s brilliant new waterfront bauble is not just a tim- filler, not just a playground, it’s an economy. 

“That’s because it’s a family outing,” said Mum. “And outings come with add-ons – like coffee, designer scones and brunch. No-one goes home from the playground without a treat.” 

At that rate, the $800,000 cost of the Hairy Maclary statues would quickly be recouped – willingly and happily pumped back through the CBD economy by fans of the dog, despite all the brouhaha and grumping about the cost. And now we are eating our way through the $5 million cost of the new playground one savoury scone, one eggs benedict, one flat white, two pieces of bluenose and a battered sausage, at a time.

“What are the complainers complaining about this time?” asked the ex-pat Mum. “Would they rather families just stayed at home?” She’s indignant. “It’s families having fun, businesses doing business, a healthy city. It’s so encouraging to come to Tauranga and see a city investing in families.”

The pull 

The new playground and pack of bronze dogs make her dreadfully homesick. “They’re a wonderful added reason for a family to want to come here and live. Don’t underestimate it.”
Just a few metres away a big bomber just heaved himself backwards into the tide, off the jumping platform. “Thwomp.” It sends a waterspout metres into the air, setting off laughing, shouting and cheering. What price is fun? At home in London the ex-pat goes to a park the size of a pocket handkerchief. “There’s a queue of about 50 pushchairs. Yes, a queue at a playground. Then you wait 30 minutes to get five minutes on the swing, because other Mums are watching and waiting.”

She spends a few pensive moments gazing around our gem of a playground, past that pack of mischievous dogs, frozen in time, and out onto the shimmering blue of our harbour. “I want it,” she said. “I’m home for a visit. Now I just want to come home.”

But not all that glistens is gold – because this little outpouring of positivity is bound to set off the naysayers. Why’s the comment ‘Tauranga City Council propaganda’ still echoing for me?

See, try, experience 

Another punter called the playground an “eyesore…and in the wrong place.” TCC wanted to return the area to the PEOPLE. Why would we want the most precious piece of CBD real estate occupied by 147 parked cars every day?

The waterfront development has also been variously described as “extremely expensive and the most boring, mediocre public spaces ever seen” and a “yawn-fest”.

Most of the criticism can be sheeted back to cost. But what cost do you put on a child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development? All the benefits of challenging and enjoying themselves for an hour or so at a playground? Apparently, the equipment impacts a child’s development as much as a formal classroom setting.

I invite all the grumps and gramps to spend five minutes on the ‘you and me swing’ – swing seats where adults and a child sit opposite, facing each and mindlessly swing.

Try, see, experience. Then tell us they are a waste of time and money.