From Ōtorohanga to Harrodsville to Sorry Town

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

A tongue-in-cheek promotion inspired by a 40-year-old prank where locals re-branded Ōtorohanga as “Harrodsville” has seen the district’s deputy mayor apologise for her part in the event.

Ōtorohanga deputy mayor Katrina Christison has copped the blame for causing “concern and upset” after falling foul of critics for a lack of consultation over the 40th anniversary of the Harrodsville promotion.

However, Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow said the situation had been a “learning experience for everyone” and the misunderstanding had been sorted out with the one person who had objected after the prank was sprung with little in the way of explanation.

Earlier this month, Dow spoke to RNZ about his memories of the time when 40 years ago the town transformed into Harrodsville to support a Palmerston North businessman named Henry Harrod.

Henry Harrod had been sued by Mohamed Al Fayed - then one of the world’s richest men and owner of Harrods department store in London - to prevent him calling his business Harrods.

With support from the district council, Ōtorohanga changed its name to “Harrodsville”, with almost every business in town changing its name to Harrods for a week.

The town briefly had 73 businesses using the name, and to honour the 40th anniversary the council had this month set up an exhibition at its museum with memorabilia from the time.

Dow hoped it would give the museum, which was flooded earlier this year, a boost.

“We’ve named a few things around town [and] put the ”Harrods“ signs up, it’s all just a bit of fun really and hopefully a good news story from around New Zealand because it’s been through a bit of a tough time.”

However, it seems stickers placed over the town’s actual name, and some social media comments made by Christison, soured proceedings.

In a social media post made over the weekend, she said her actions, including naming an individual, “have contributed to hurt and frustration”.

“I apologise for the impact this has had on those affected by this situation.”

She went on to “acknowledge” concerns raised about the Harrodsville promotion.

“While this was not a council initiative, my part in supporting the idea and the lack of engagement with iwi and hapu prior to the initiative has caused offence.”

She said the intention was to support local businesses and promote the district, and that she valued “the name Ōtorohanga and the history, identity, and meaning it holds for our community”.

“I accept that greater engagement would have helped us better understand perspectives and avoid unintended offence.

She said she accepted there were lessons to be learned around communication to be learned.

Christison referred the Waikato Times to Dow when contacted about her statement.

Dow said the misunderstanding came about after a “young person” challenged the promotion online.

“Life's changed a bit from 40 years ago when they renamed the town.

“It was just a few little comments on social media that upset a couple of young people … and we were addressing those concerns.

“A person put himself out there as a spokesperson for the younger ones … but they didn't really understand what it was all about, they didn’t know the full story.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing … if we had shared the story first, then they would understand what was going on.”

Dow said those involved had since “built some good relationships”.

“It’s all about communication, isn’t it.”

The Waikato Times has attempted to contact the young person involved.