By Sam Smith of 
Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
It has overlooked the main street of this Auckland suburb for over 20 years, but now the iconic local statue of an Avondale spider is coming down.
Dale the spider, as it has become affectionately known by locals, is being removed as Eke Panuku prepares to develop the town square where the statue stands.
The square is being redeveloped into a new library and community hub, meaning Dale, the eight-metre high, five-metre wide statue has to go, for now.
Dale has become quite the local landmark in Avondale over the years, towering over the town centre, since it was put up in its current location in 2002.
Dale, who is a reconstruction of an Australian huntsman spider, had previously been in storage, after originally been positioned on the roof of a Mobil petrol station.
The huntsman spider was first introduced to New Zealand in the 1920s and became a common sight in the Auckland suburb where it flourished, earning it the name the Avondale spider.
The Avondale spider even found fame in the 1990 horror film Arachnophobia, with 300 of the spiders used in the filming.
These days the spiders themselves are a rare sight in the area, leaving Dale to fly their flag.
The statue is owned by the Avondale Business Association (ABA) and they say the statue will have a new home eventually.
In a statement, it said the statue had served as a unique symbol for Avondale's evolving and diverse community, and had been a distinctive landmark of significance to the area's local identity.
The ABA said once the statue was removed it would be placed in storage and assessed to see what restoration work was needed.
It said funds would be required for any restoration and relocation work, but the aim remained to provide Dale with a new home.
"The ABA is actively working with members of the community to identify a suitable new location for the statue," it said.
This was ongoing and there was no word yet when Dale would re-emerge, or where his new home would be.
Dale will be removed this week.
- This story was originally published by Stuff.
