Gore’s Iconic Trout Statue Named Trevor at Local Festival

The brown trout statue in Gore, New Zealand, has officially been named **Trevor** after a public voting process conducted by the Gore District Council and Hokonui FM. The announcement took place on **October 15, 2023**, during the **On The Fly Festival**, an event celebrating fly fishing along the picturesque **Mataura River**.

Since its installation in **1989**, the statue has been a significant landmark for the Southland town, attracting tourists who often stop to take photographs. The council sought name suggestions from the community, leading to a shortlist that included options like Trixie, Scout, Gordon, and Finn. Ultimately, Trevor emerged as the favorite, garnering over one-third of the votes.

Florine Potts, senior events coordinator for the Gore District Council, expressed enthusiasm about the name. “People from far and wide come to Gore, come and take a photo with the trout. We see it happen every single day. Buses full of tourists stop here, and now we can all embrace Trevor the trout,” she noted. This naming event adds to the statue’s legacy, which was originally gifted to the town by the **Gore Lion’s Club** to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

The festival featured various activities, including fly fishing demonstrations led by experienced guides like **Shelan Boyes** and **Mike Weddell**. Boyes highlighted the challenges of the sport, mentioning, “You’re having to not only cast a rod with a really light fly on the end of it, have accuracy, deal with the wind, deal with the elements, and then also have to pretty much hook it yourself and reel it in yourself without losing it.”

The event aimed not only to entertain but also to promote awareness of river health. Boyes described the **Mataura River** as a “gold medal, blue ribbon fishery,” citing its impressive density of **700 fish per kilometer**, making it a prime location for fishing enthusiasts.

Weddell, a seasoned fly fisherman with over **60 years** of experience, also participated in the festival. He reminisced about the joys of fishing, saying, “It’s a fantastic sport. What you used to see in the village back home, all the kids that fished all the time never got into trouble, except for coming home too late at night.”

An official naming ceremony for Trevor is planned for later this year, further cementing the statue’s place in the community and its significance as a tourist attraction. The combination of the naming event and the festival has successfully brought together locals and visitors, fostering a love for fishing in the enchanting surroundings of Gore and the **Mataura River**.