Helen Clark the cat and his Coromandel humans

Coastal Coromandel is known for the gigantic arches of Cathedral Cove, a scenic train trip through native forests, soft sandy beaches and, Helen Clark.

Not the previous prime minister Helen Clark but Helen Clark the ginger cat.

Helen became a Coromandel town local in 2018 but his life did not start there; he was found on the side of the road as a small kitten in Karratha, Western Australia.

Jodi France's brother adopted Helen from SAFE and named him after the previous prime minister, not realising he was a male cat until he was taken to be desexed.

"The name stuck anyway, but the testes were a goner," Jodi France said.

When France moved to Coromandel, where she now works as administrator at Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki Whānau Health Centre, Helen came too.

France said he was a fantastic tourist attraction.

"I'd be rich if I charged $5 for every photo taken of him and he's just generally the town's favourite ginger boy."

France started the "Where's Helen Clark" Facebook page six months after their arrival.

"Helen was always a wanderer, and moving countries did not change that. I was getting photos and messages from tonnes of people - business owners, tourists and locals," she said.

"I could barely walk up the street without someone stopping me to ask, talk or tell me what my recalcitrant cat had been up to."

Helen has a "well-established fan club," from doing regular daily rounds of the town, beginning at 6am with a visit to the local butchers, then stopping in at "every cafe and restaurant in town".

He spends the afternoon snoozing in either the library, a cafe, the GP's surgery or "some random person's bed if they happened to leave a window open".

Helen also claims residence at Weta Cafe, where he finds a spot to nap on chairs and under tables, curled up in large plant pots, or tucked away in a pram or mobility scooter.

"It's his cafe, Mel and Sallie just work there," France said.

Adoptive parents

Weta Cafe chef and co-cafe owner Mel Shennen first met Helen when she was catering a wedding.

Helen, the uninvited guest, arrived out of nowhere and found a spot for himself under the bridal party table.

"From that day on, he made an appearance daily and being a cat lover, I guess he latched on to the silly human who always pandered to him and fed him prawns every day," Shennen said.

"He tends to go through at least a kilogram of prawn cutlets a week over and above his normal cat food. Let's just say the 8kg kitty likes to eat."

She quickly became an adoptive parent, just one of many in the Coromandel community.

"It's been quite amazing seeing how much our townsfolk have fallen in love with him," France said.

"He's definitely living a cat's best life and brings a lot of joy to a lot of people!"

Shennen said he plays a massive role in the community and is known as Mayor Helen.

One local artist has made 'Helen for Mayor' T-shirts, with all proceeds going to the local museum's refurbishment.

When a large cancerous lump was discovered on his neck, the community rallied together to raise the $800 needed for the vet bill.

"People were coming left right and centre with generous donations or even merchandise to sell and all proceeds went to his fund," Shennen said.

Shannen has even sent a photo of Helen to the real Helen Clark.

"She had already heard of him and always refers to him as her 'namesake.'

Shannen thinks Helen could give Mittens a run for his money as one of the most photographed cats in New Zealand.

Helen has made the Coromandel community his family.

"We should always celebrate our furry friends, They tend to get right under your skin and become family. Helen has a pretty large family these days," Shannen said.

"Holidaymakers tend to come back to the cafe and always ask after him or ask if I can find him for them to swoon over. The kids love him too. He doesn't always love them back, but it's nice watching parents telling their children to be gentle with him. I think he simply makes people feel good."