Pakuranga Park residents visit Big Ted’s house in Howick

Big Ted has been very busy this week trying to understand the New Zealand’s government new traffic light system. But that didn’t stop him from having a little chat (socially distanced, of course) with Pakuranga Park residents, when they drove past his house on Wednesday.

The Howick-based teddy bear has been entertaining locals during the 70 days that Auckland has been in lockdown. He’s a Bear of many talents and he’s been sailing, skiing, playing cricket, knitting and repairing cars.

The lady behind Big Ted is schoolteacher Susan Mudford, who created this adorable character back in 2020 with the first lockdown. The teddy bear has become a beacon of positivity for the locals and has been amusing the children while they’re out of school. Susan was very pleased to see Pakuranga Park residents stopping by because she feels very close to the retirement village: “I have known a lot of Pakuranga Park residents over the years, including many peers and friends of my Mum and Dad’s and also from our church St Andrew’s Presbyterian in Howick.”

Big Ted is double vaccinated and he always follows the news very closely. His antics have been featured in the media, and with his growing fame he has had to answer some zoom calls from very important people.

Big Ted is not only adorable, but he’s also a charity fundraiser. He’s collecting food for the local foodbank (over 750 items so far). On top of that, he will appear in a "Best of Big Ted and Friends" 2022 calendar and a "Big Ted’s Sailing Adventures" calendar to raise money for Howick Sailing Club and St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Howick.