ROSLYN WOMAN'S LOST JANDAL RETURNED FROM AUCKLAND AFTER 8 MONTHS, PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON LAWN

A Roslyn woman has been reunited with a single jandal that went missing from a Dunedin backyard in February and turned up on a West Auckland beach eight months later.

Owner Bridie Loughran, 34, held what she called a "small press conference" on her front lawn on Sunday. Attendance was three neighbours, her mum, and a bloke from two doors down who'd come over about a wheelie bin.

"I know it's just a jandal," Loughran told the crowd. "But it's my jandal. And it's been through more than most of us."

The jandal was found by Prue Hetherington at Bethells, who spotted the initials "BL" on the strap in Vivid. "I put it on Facebook. Someone tagged someone. Next thing I know I'm couriering a jandal to Dunedin." She declined a reward but accepted a block of Whittaker's.

A neighbour, Kev, said he'd only come for the bin conversation and was now "emotionally invested against my will." The matching jandal, still in Roslyn, has been kept in a drawer since February "out of respect".

STATEMENT FROM DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL:

"Council is aware of community concerns regarding the recent jandal repatriation event held on a property in Roslyn. While the gathering did not require a permit under current bylaws, Council notes that press conferences of this nature may, in future, benefit from prior consultation with the Events Team. We are reviewing whether footwear-related public assemblies fall within the scope of the Reserves and Beaches Bylaw 2017. A response is expected in due course. Council thanks residents for their patience."