Statue of Pania, Bronze statue on Marine Parade, Napier, New Zealand
The Statue of Pania is a small bronze sculpture on Marine Parade in Napier, New Zealand, showing Pania seated with her legs folded to her right on a rough rock-like base. She is bare-chested, wears a pendant on a cord and a fringed piupiu skirt of thin strands, with her left arm resting on the base and her right hand on her knee.
The monument was unveiled in 1954 by Prime Minister Sidney Holland and was based on photographs of Mei Irihapiti Robin from Hukarere Girls College. This statue marked an acknowledgment of Māori culture in Napier's public space during that era.
The statue depicts Pania, a figure from Māori mythology, wearing a piupiu skirt and a carved pendant. The nickname "Pania of the Reef" may come from a reef off Napier that bears her name. The work is often compared to Copenhagen's Little Mermaid statue, as both are small bronze figures near the sea based on similar stories.
The sculpture is located along the Marine Parade waterfront promenade and is easy to find among the area's coastal attractions. This spot is openly accessible and offers views toward the harbor and ocean.
In 2005, the statue disappeared for eight days after being stolen, but police recovered it and returned it to its original location following restoration. This event brought the sculpture national attention.
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