MATANGI MAILBOX GETS FRESH DECORATION EVERY MORNING, COUNCIL CAN'T DECIDE IF IT'S ART OR A THREAT
Day 34: a plastic frog holding a teaspoon. Day 35: the teaspoon is gone. The frog looks worried.
A letterbox on Tauwhare Road in Matangi has been getting a new decoration every morning for over a month. Hamilton City Council says it is either public art, a coded message, or "honestly, not sure, email us Monday".
The mailbox belongs to Delwyn Frater, 71, who says she has nothing to do with it. She's stopped taking the decorations down because "whoever's doing it is clearly committed and I've got a bad hip". Recent additions: a ceramic owl, three plastic grapes on garden twine, and a laminated photo of a stranger's cavoodle.
"Came out Tuesday and there was a rubber duck wearing a tiny high-vis," Delwyn said. "Wednesday the duck was gone but the vest was still there. Thursday it was a spoon. I don't know what any of it means and frankly I'd rather not."
Neighbour Prem Naidu, across the road, has been keeping a photographic record. He reckons the arrangements are "telling a story, if you squint". Asked what the story was, he said: "Something about a duck. Possibly betrayal."
A Hamilton City Council spokesperson said the mailbox was on private property and therefore not their problem. They added that, if it were their problem, they'd want it noted the frog was "not council-issued". They would not be drawn on the teaspoon.
As of Friday the frog is still there, now with a single sultana next to it. Delwyn has stopped checking her mail before 10am.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Matangi
Art or not, it's bloody brilliant!
road_raging_Rick
Mate, Hamilton has bigger problems than a decorated mailbox. Focus on fixing the bumpy roads!
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, we didn’t need fancy decorations to enjoy the neighbourhood, mate. We’d just gather around the fish and chip shop and talk face to face!
Katie_Hamilton
Mate, sounds like something munted teenagers from O-Week might be doing. Just a bit of fun, nothing to worry about.
Conspiracy_Karen
It's clearly a secret message. Match the objects with the days of the week and it'll spell out the truth about Geoff and the frogs!
couchgremlin
Lol.
Sandra McKenzie
Honestly, this is just ridiculous. Imagine if we all just started adding random objects to letterboxes. The whole street would look like a junkyard.
Art_Enthusiast69
It's art! If it makes you laugh or think twice, it's doing its job. A teaspoon or a duck, what’s the harm?
MumOf3_Waikato
Sandra, no one cares. People love a little mystery in life. Leave the poor mailbox decorations alone.