Abel Tasman dressed up in some midwinter swimming attire earlier this week after somebody added a woolly bikini, leg warmers and beard to the statue overlooking Tasman Bay.
PHOTO: Andrew Board
It is unknown who dressed the statue but former chairperson of the Abel Tasman Statue Trust, Addo Mulders, says he often finds people have added their own twist to the prominent Nelson figure.
“The other day somebody put a hat on it,” he says. “Last year when we had the Christmas holiday one of the iwi put the Maori flag on it. I thought what an honour to put the Maori flag there. It gives the feeling that we are united with the historical facts in that particular instance.”
He says he can see the funny side of dressing up Abel Tasman as long as people don’t go too far.
“When people decorate it I have no problem as long as it is removable. As soon as you put paint on it then it is trying to destroy it in one way or another. Things like that have to be removed after a couple of days so it gives somebody else the opportunity to do something with it.”
Do you know who knitted Abel Tasman his winter woolies? Contact our reporter 021 972 572.
Kath Inwood first alerted Nelson Live to this story via our Facebook page.
