Pania back home

Napier's Pania of the Reef statue was this morning re-attached to its Marine Parade base nearly three weeks after being stolen.

The statue was recovered from a local house on November 4 and three people have since been charged in relation to its theft.

Pania has been attached to a granite base and the site will remain cordoned off until 5.30pm today when an official unveiling ceremony takes place.

Napier City Council reserves manager Tony Billing said the statue had been "really securely fixed" this time and would be extremely difficult to remove.

The disappearance of the bronze icon, which has been on the Marine Parade for 51 years, angered the local community, and it has expressed its relief at getting it back.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott this morning said she was confident the statue would sit there for at least another 51 years.

"People have missed her, they have big emotional ties with her and they need to have an outlet for that and we're hoping to give them that," she told National Radio.

Hundreds of people are expected to witness this afternoon's ceremony.

The statue is now under 24-hour guard courtesy of a surveillance camera donated and set-up by security firm Chubb.

Chubb spokesman Derek Leadbetter said the company had been operating in Hawke's Bay for many years and wanted to do something in the wake of the statue's theft which resulted in so much emotional distress within the community.

"It's part of being a good corporate citizen," Mr Leadbetter said.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott had been consulted by Mr Leadbetter about the offer and was delighted with the company's move.

- NZPA, HAWKE'S BAY TODAY