ŌTOROHANGA, New Zealand — Ōtorohanga’s deputy mayor Katrina Christison has issued an apology following criticism over the handling of a recent promotion commemorating the 40th anniversary of a local prank that temporarily rebranded the town as "Harrodsville."

The original event, which took place four decades ago, saw Ōtorohanga rename itself Harrodsville for a week in support of a Palmerston North businessman, Henry Harrod. At the time, Harod had been involved in a legal dispute with Mohamed Al Fayed, then owner of the Harrods department store in London, over the use of the "Harrods" name. Backed by the district council, nearly every business in Ōtorohanga adopted the “Harrods” name temporarily, with a total of 73 businesses participating.

To mark the anniversary this month, the council organized an exhibition of related memorabilia at the local museum, hoping to provide a positive boost after the facility suffered flooding earlier in the year. Ōtorohanga Mayor Rodney Dow described the initiative as “a bit of fun” and a lighthearted story during a difficult time for the community.

However, the commemoration drew criticism after stickers with the “Harrods” name were placed over the town’s official signage and some social media comments made by Christison sparked controversy. In a weekend statement, Christison acknowledged that her involvement, including naming an individual online, had caused “hurt and frustration.” She apologized for the impact and recognized concerns related to the promotion, particularly the lack of consultation with local iwi and hapū prior to the event.

Christison emphasized that the intent was to support local businesses and celebrate the district’s identity, which she respects deeply. She said the episode revealed the need for better communication and engagement to avoid unintentional offense in the future.

Mayor Dow attributed the misunderstanding to a lack of clear information being shared early on, noting that some younger residents raised concerns through social media without fully understanding the backstory. “If we had shared the story first, then they would understand what was going on,” he said. Dow added that since the issue arose, those involved have worked to develop positive relationships.

Efforts to reach the individual who initially expressed opposition on social media have so far been unsuccessful. The council maintains that the commemoration remains a valuable reflection of local history and community spirit.