The statue was erected in 2002 by sculptor Donald Paterson and was in poor condition.
Mr Thomson was the chief surveyor of Otago from 1856-73 and the first surveyor general of New Zealand from 1876-79.
He was born near the border of Scotland and England.
He named many places in the Maniototo when he surveyed the area in November 1857.
He named streams in the area after wild animals - Horseburn, Mareburn, Fillyburn, Hogburn, Sowburn, Eweburn, Wetherburn, Gimmerburn, Kyeburn and Stotburn.
"Burn" means "fresh water" in Scots Gaelic.
St Bathans was named after his mother's home and the Dunstan mountains near Cromwell were named after Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, England.
He named Raggedy Range and Tiger Hill near Ophir and also the town itself.
Mrs McAtamney, who was a district councillor and community board member for 15 years from the 1980s to the early 2000s, led Ranfurly's Art Deco revitalisation at the turn of the new millennium.
She was instrumental in the statue's development and creation.
"[The statue] was done to educate the community about why these names are significant to the Maniototo," she said.
The statue's condition was supposed to be checked every 18 months, but Mrs McAtamney said that never happened.
Three years ago, she spoke to the Central Otago District Council about it, and it was suggested she apply to the long-term plan.
Mrs McAtamney was unhappy with that response so inquired further.
The council told her the person doing the work would need a Health and Safety certificate.
Eventually, she told the council she would pay for it herself, but would expect to be reimbursed.
The council paid for the restoration, and said she did not have to contribute.
"It was a nightmare to get it refurbished because of rules and regulations."
But finally, it was restored - Mr Paterson finished repainting it last week.
Mrs McAtamney said the council's parks team leader, Ian Mann, had been "very helpful".
Mr Thomson was also the chief surveyor of Invercargill.
The statue is now in pristine condition, but sun damage has made the information board to the side virtually unreadable.
