Lyall Bay residents plan to raise funds for a giant inflatable emoji

The High Tide Club, a local community group in Lyall Bay on the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand, plans to raise $7000 to build a large inflatable poo emoji.

Members of the group intend to float the sculpture, which will stand over four metres tall, in the local surf. Johnny Carpenter, a member of the club, says the project aims to provide a laugh for a community facing a difficult year.

The area has suffered from severe storm damage and the catastrophic failure of the nearby Moa Point waste water plant. Carpenter believes the sculpture could also serve as a way to spark conversations with the local council to motivate them to fix the environmental issues. Local business owners have expressed mixed reactions to the plan. Katie Richardson, a co-owner of the Maranui Café, finds the idea funny but is unsure if it represents the community's identity.

Jack Candlish, the owner of Verdure Surfboards, expressed more serious concerns. He stated that the sewage leak caused him to lose 40 percent of his business and argued that the situation is already embarrassing enough without adding more humor.