Shrek the Sheep is back, but like you've never seen him before.
Three years after his death he's been stuffed and put on display for a new exhibition at Te Papa, and a special group of people have come all the way from Central Otago to be there for the opening.
Most of the Tarras School students there to see him today weren't even born when Shrek put their town on the world map 10 years ago, but they still know a thing or two about the celebrity merino.
And for good reason - their small school has produced two books about Shrek, raising enough money for them to hire a second teacher. It also helped them get to Wellington today for the opening of Te Papa's new exhibit Shrek the Sheep: A Loveable Southern Rogue.
For Olly and Max Perriam, Shrek's part of the family - he belonged to their grandfather.
"I've been credited with being his manager, he was like a rock star and he had to be treated accordingly," says John Perriam.
Shrek was found hiding in a cave 10 years ago, where he'd evaded capture for six years. He emerged a giant ball of wool and quickly became a national icon.
He travelled the world and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity - particularly for Cure Kids.
He met the then-Prime Minister Helen Clark at Parliament, went up the Sky Tower and was even shorn on an iceberg off the coast of Otago.
"It was a great journey and to see Cure Kids and the charity here at Te Papa, it's really special," says Mr Perriam.
The country mourned when Shrek died in 2011, but Mr Perriam says he's proud to see his legacy live on - both at this exhibition and at Tarras School.
READ MORE:
- Service to be held for Shrek the Sheep
- Farmer prepares to farewell Shrek, his special sheep
- Shrek: The Sheep, the fundraiser, the book
3 News
source: newshub archive
