A symbol of the movie Pete's Dragon which was partially filmed in Tapanui has gone fly-about.
The blue sign with a white silhouette of the dragon featured in the film and was given to the town once filming finished.
It was fixed to the ‘‘Tapanui'' sign at the town's south entrance. At a West Otago Community Board meeting yesterday, board member Suzanne Wink said she was told by a member of the public last Thursday the sign was missing, despite having been screwed firmly to the ‘‘Tapanui'' sign.
It is not the first time the dragon sign has gone missing. Senior Constable John Mawhinney, of Gore, said the ‘‘town icon'' was taken sometime last year but was eventually returned.
‘‘It mysteriously turned up somewhere, but I don't know how or where.''
Snr Const Mawhinney had not been alerted to the latest theft but he said he would follow any information given to him by the public. He added there was no point stealing the dragon, as it was not worth much.
‘‘It's worth more to this town than anyone having it in their room.''
If the person responsible was caught, there was a possibility they could be charged.
If they wanted their own dragon sign, they could easily have one made.
Snr Const Mawhinney hopes the sign will be returned.
‘‘It's gone missing once before so hopefully it will turn up again.''
The film is due to premiere in the US on August 12.
