She’s back.

And this time, she’s not watching the ocean – she’s watching the petrol board.

Mount Maunganui’s rogue dragon sculpture, Toa Ahi, has re-emerged in a new nest on Maunganui Rd – perched high on a stand and staring directly over the fence at the neighbouring BP Connect petrol station like a fiery watchdog of the forecourt.

If dragons are known for guarding treasure, this one appears to be guarding something far more precious in 2026 – fuel.

Owners Graham and Carol Foote said the placement wasn’t meant to make a statement – but they admit the dragon’s new line of sight has raised a few eyebrows.

“She’s definitely looking in the right direction,” Graham said.

“With prices the way they are, maybe she’s just checking no one’s stealing it.”

The 1.2m-tall Art of Outdoors sculpture – crafted from scrap metal including car parts, bolts and horseshoes – first captured the public’s imagination when it mysteriously appeared overnight at Pilot Bay last August.

Back then, she looked out over the water. Now, she’s looking out over something a little less calming – 91 petrol pushing well past $3 a litre.

Motorists pulling into BP Connect on Maunganui Rd now have a friendly dragon peering over the fence in their direction. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Toa Ahi’s return comes as fuel prices across New Zealand have surged dramatically in the past month – and Tauranga has felt it just as sharply.

At the start of March, motorists in the Bay could still find 91 petrol for about $2.60 to $2.90 per litre.

Fast-forward a few weeks, and many are now paying $3 to $3.30-plus for 91 petrol – with some stations even higher.

That’s a jump of roughly 40 to 50 cents per litre in a single month. In percentage terms, it’s about a 20% increase – the kind that turns a casual top-up into a small financial event. For a typical 50-litre tank, that’s an extra $20-$25 gone in one fill.

The price of diesel also increased significantly during March, with the additional road user cost of $75 per 1000km on top of that.

It’s all enough, perhaps, to make even a metal dragon wince. When Toa Ahi first appeared at the corner of Commons Avenue and the Mall, she was a whimsical surprise – a late-night installation that quickly became a local talking point.

Despite breaching council bylaws, the sculpture drew widespread support, with many residents calling for it to stay.

At the time, Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular said it was “lovely in tough times to have something that makes people smile”.

Now, those “tough times” have taken on a slightly more expensive tone. With fuel prices climbing, groceries rising and household budgets tightening, the dragon’s new position feels less like coincidence and more like commentary.

Toa Ahi has a new perch, staring directly over the fence at the neighbouring BP Connect petrol station on Maunganui Rd. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

“She’s gone from watching paddleboarders to watching the fuel board climb,” one passerby joked. “Maybe she’s breathing fire on the prices.”

The recent spike in fuel costs has been driven by global oil pressures from the Iran War, and experts warn prices could climb even higher if the situation continues.

Some forecasts suggest petrol could edge closer to $4 per litre if international supply issues worsen.

While her seaside perch is gone, Toa Ahi hasn’t lost her audience. Drivers pulling into the station - or wincing at the numbers as they pass - are now greeted by the steampunk guardian looking on

“People are stopping and taking photos,” Carol said. “We’re just glad that we’ve found a final resting place for it.”

Whether guarding or judging, Toa Ahi is once again doing what she does best – getting people talking.

And perhaps, at a time when every litre counts, that’s part of her charm, because if you’re going to feel the burn at the pump you may as well have a dragon there to share it.