The latest member of the Hairy Maclary crew is in Tauranga ready to join his friends on the waterfront.

Hercules Morse – as big as a horse – arrived at Creative Tauranga's doorstep in a shipping crate on Wednesday.

Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell with the Hercules Morse and Zachary Quack statue.

It was opened at the downtown Tauranga organisation's office today, says Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell.

The eight cast iron sculptures of the gang of Scarface Claw, Slinky Malinki, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts, Schnitzel von Krumm, Bitzer Maloney and Zachary Quack., are being made by Wellington-based Weta Workshop artist Brigitte Wuest.

They will form a permanent public art feature on Tauranga's waterfront.

Other members of the gang from Tauranga writer Dame Lynley Dodds' books are trickling into town as fundraising for the waterfront project continues.

So far $520,000 of the $700,000 project has been raised, leaving $180,000 to go.

To donate to the project click here.