Paeroa’s L&P bottle statue has been temporarily altered, with the landmark now split down the middle — one half brown, the other clear — following a change to the soft drink’s packaging.
The 7m tall roadside attraction has been re‑skinned for a limited time after L&P began replacing its traditional brown plastic bottles with clear plastic, the first major packaging change in the drink’s 119‑year history.
The company has said the move was intended to improve recyclability, with clear PET plastic easier to recycle in New Zealand than coloured plastic.
Coca-Cola director of marketing Tracey Evans said L&P was a Kiwi icon and that any changes to the packaging were not taken lightly.
"This is exactly why we’re making the shift to clear plastic because it gives every bottle a better chance of being recycled back into another bottle. It’s a meaningful step that helps future-proof a classic."
The landmark statue has been split between brown and clear to reflect L&P’s shift to more recyclable plastic bottles for the first time in over a century. (Source: Breakfast)
Hauraki District Mayor Toby Adams said the community would 100% still recognise the town's landmark with the temporary change.
"I'll be surprised if we sit here today and don't see people coming to take their photos," he told Breakfast.
Adams said he had "some pre shots" of L&P and could confirm the drink still tasted the same despite the change.
The Paeroa bottle statue, a long‑standing tourist attraction, has previously been repainted and modified but will now reflect the packaging shift by displaying both versions side by side.
L&P has used brown bottles for decades, dating back to its origins in the early 1900s when naturally carbonated water from the Ōhinemuri Spring was mixed with lemon juice.
Clear plastic bottles will progressively replace brown plastic across all bottle sizes.
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