Headless troll makes Xmas comeback

One of Norsewood's famous trolls has returned home for Christmas - minus his head.

Olaf the friendly troll, missing from the Tararua town of Norsewood, is back - battered, beheaded and splattered with bits of spaghetti.

The 1.5 metre troll was returned earlier this week after being taken from his position guarding the entrance to town off State Highway 2 on December 7.

Unfortunately, his hijackers left him in the middle of the on-ramp to Norsewood, where he was run over by the town's chief fire officer in the early hours of Monday morning, Hawke's Bay Today reported.

Roger Montgomery was returning from work when his vehicle hit something "pretty hard".

He returned when it was light to find wooden splinters all over the road and not far away, down a bank, was Olaf, minus his head.

Mr Montgomery said he had been "getting a hard time" for running over Olaf.

"There are some people who don't like the trolls and they've been coming up and shaking my hand. The others were pleased to get it back."

Other than missing his head Olaf also has a broken arm and is missing some bits.

Norsewood resident Lyn McConchie said she was annoyed by the actions of "idiots who didn't think about the consequences of their actions".

It could have turned lethal if someone had been speeding and smashed into the solid lump of wood, she said.

"And can you imagine what Roger's insurance company thought when told he'd hit a troll in the middle of Norsewood."

The thieves did leave some evidence left behind. Olaf was covered in traces of spaghetti.

"Those responsible obviously enjoyed a meal of the stuff while our troll was with them," Mrs Domper said.

Olaf was carved by a Rotorua chainsaw artist 13 years ago. He was one of 15 troll statues positioned around the village to celebrate the town's heritage as a settling place for Scandinavian migrants.

- NZPA