Lois still visits the spot where a popular Mount Maunganui driftwood sofa sat

Lois Hemsley still visits the spot where the popular Mount Maunganui driftwood sofa once sat at the top of the dunes. Photo/George Novak

The popular driftwood sofa at Mount Maunganui may be gone, but Lois Hemsley still visits the same spot every day when she goes to the beach.

"I still sit underneath the pohutukawa tree and I still get stopped by people in the street saying what a shame it's not still there," the 75-year-old said yesterday when the Bay of Plenty Times caught up with her.

The Tauranga City Council ordered the removal of the popular beach seat in August and by September 29, it had disappeared – but it was never clear who removed it.

The deadline for its removal was September 30 and the council confirmed at the time it was not involved in it being taken down.

Hemsley still does not know where the sofa ended up and has not managed to touch base with the two men who built it together in March – Brian Currie and Rodney Griffen.

She said she would maybe try track them down again early next year.

"Since then I've just been real busy with school holidays and catching up and getting ready for Christmas and that sort of thing," Hemsley said.

She had been away and now has family staying for Christmas and the holidays.

The seat, which sat at the top of the dunes on Marine Parade, halfway between Sutherland and Grove Aves, became a much-loved lookout and hang out spot among local residents and visitors alike.

Hemsley, who has lived in the area for about 55 years, fought for the sofa to be left there.

She said people still asked her about it and questioned why the council had to order its removal.

People tell her how nice the seat was to sit on and how it was not doing any harm as it was above the sand hills, Lois said.

Lois Hemsley fought to stop the popular Mount Maunganui driftwood sofa from being removed. Photo/Andrew Warner

As holidaymakers make their way into the city and region and hit the beaches, Hemsley says the driftwood sofa "would have been good for people to sit on".