The statue was commissioned by members of the Thirty Thousand Club after the Anglican Bishop of Aotearoa, Frederick Bennett, related the legend of Pania to them.

Several students from Hukarere Girls College were photographed as models for the statue, and eventually, Mei Irihapiti Robin (later Mei Whaitiri, the mother of local MP Meka Whaitiri), was selected.

[2] This clay model was then used to produce the bronze statue, which is estimated to weigh between 60 and 70 kg.

The statue was unveiled on 10 June 1954 by then Prime Minister Sidney Holland.

On 27 October 2005, the statue was stolen,[4][5] but was discovered by Jeff Foley and recovered by police on 4 November.