Kerikeri police and two pubs full of angry patrons are hunting for a kidnapper who struck during Labour weekend.
They are also scouring the town for the victim, who answers to the name Freddy and was last seen wearing a brown Fedora hat, red-and-black striped sweatshirt and distinctive, razor-sharp metal claws on one hand. Adding to the mystery, the kidnappers only took Freddy's top half.
His legs are still attached to a trailer display parked outside the Homestead Tavern to promote the Big Balls fishing competition, contested by patrons of the Kerikeri RSA and the Homestead Tavern every Labour Weekend for the past 18 years.
As well as details of dates and prizes, the display features a life-size soldier complete with bloodied bandages (representing the RSA) and a mannequin dressed as Freddy Krueger (from the horror movie Nightmare on Elm St, representing the "bad boys" at the Homestead).
Homestead publican Ross Lynch urged whoever stole Freddy on Saturday night to return him or face the wrath of two pubs full of angry patrons.