Reward offered for safe return of Norsewood's troll

SUPPLIED

MISSING: Olaf the troll has been stolen from his place on the Thor St bridge, in central Norsewood. Locals are pleading for his return.

FRIENDLY: Two more of Norsewood's 15 troll statues, which act as a visitor attraction and celebration of the town's Scandinavian heritage.

Relevant offers

A 1.5 metre troll has mysteriously disappeared from the Tararua town of Norsewood, leaving residents pleading for the return of their treasured Olaf.

The wooden troll was stolen from its position guarding the entrance to town on the Thor St bridge, near State Highway 2, on Friday night.

Olaf was one of 15 troll statues positioned around the village, as a way of celebrating the town's heritage as a settling place for Scandinavian migrants in the 19th century.

Yesterday, Norsewood promotions committee member Simon Demper said the loss of their prize troll was no joke.

Olaf had been carved by a Rotorua chainsaw sculpture artist 13 years ago, and had manned the bridge ever since. He was the subject of many legends told around town, with a series of children's books written by local author Lyn McConchie featuring Olaf as the main character.

When locals noticed Olaf missing on Saturday morning, they were devastated, Mr Demper said.

"We have in Norsewood very friendly trolls. It was quite a unique piece of art actually ... I think most of the community is not too happy that someone has hijacked [Olaf].

"The community here is quite a nice knit community and we really love to be special and the trolls are something special. We miss him very much, and he needs to come home."

Trolls are central characters in many Scandinavian legends.

As a northern troll, Olaf would never pull any "who's that trotting over my bridge" type tricks, or threaten to eat baby goats for breakfast.

Unlike the scary, belligerent trolls in many Danish stories, Swedish and Norwegian trolls are friendlier, Shrek-like creatures.

"The further you go south, the scarier they become. Our trolls are mischievous, sort of good characters," Mr Demper said.

Olaf was known as a lonely but amenable troll, who liked to befriend local children.

According to stories, since living in Norsewood he had made friends with a little girl, scored a new jersey from local knitwear factory Norsewear, been taught to swim by a Taniwha, and helped to find Huia in the Tararua ranges.

The promotions committee was putting up a reward for his return.

- © Fairfax NZ News