The Otago Daily Times reported on Thursday the bronze statue would be shifted north later this year from a site overlooking the Snow Farm access road on the Pisa Range where Bourne was involved in a pre-event crash in April 2003 at the annual Race to the Sky hill climb.
He died in hospital from injuries sustained in the crash and the statue was unveiled near the accident site a year later.
Former event director Grant Aitken proposed relocating the statue because he felt it was losing its significance at Cardrona since the race was no longer held there and it would be more widely appreciated in Pukekohe, where Bourne lived. The ODT understands the statue was paid for by Mr Aitken's Race to the Sky organisation.
Auckland rally enthusiast and competitor Melinda van Meygaarden contacted the newspaper to say the article had prompted a "passionate unrest" among many rally competitors, fans and organisers nationwide who "believe that the current memorial holds incredible significance in its current location and attracts many visitors to the region for that sole reason".
The Facebook page for the Grey Roots Group, which describes itself as "an eclectic mix of NZ rally enthusiasts", was filled with messages in response to the article, most of which called for the statue to stay.
Several people suggested a replica statue should be created for Pukekohe and others called for a motorsport event to be held again at Cardrona.
Long-time motorsport photographer Geoff Ridder, of Hamilton, said the statue site had become "a place of pilgrimage" for the rally fraternity.
Former Race to the Sky course clerk Roger Laird, of Gore, said while he personally wanted the statue to remain where it was, "we need to respect Grant's wishes too, where he thinks it will be best served and more people see it.
"Grant's put up the money to build the statue originally so the move is really his call."
Mr Aitken declined to comment on the objections to the statue's relocation.
Franklin Local Board chairman Andy Baker said Mr Aitken's offer to move the statue to Pukekohe was welcomed by those "closest to Possum".
"They are all extremely positive and that includes his mum and his widow and people involved in the motorsport industry up here ... and his personal friends up here, they think it's wonderful," Mr Baker said.
"I think he [Mr Aitken] wants to do what's best for the statue and for the legacy of Possum Bourne."
The statue's relocation would cost about $100,000 and would be paid for by the Auckland City Council from the Pukekohe town centre upgrade budget. It would take pride of place on the main street.
