Mystery man in Taniwha mask. Who is it?

The identity of the person inside Northland Rugby's Tane the Taniwha mascot outfit - seen right at Sunday's game against North Harbour at Toll Stadium - is not being revealed and the NRU declines to talk about it.

The search for a new person to fill the Taniwha suit began on Thursday last week, after the man in the green monster suit, Brendon Gower, announced on Facebook that he had "given up the ghost" and resigned.

Gower said he had quit because he hadn't been provided with food, his wallet and phone had been stolen from his changing room and he had been hurt when two people tackled him on the field after a game. The NRU apologised to Gower and there was somebody in the Taniwha suit for Sunday's game against North Harbour, which Northland won 18-17.

However, NRU operations manager Greg Shipton declined to comment on the issue and wouldn't say if Gower was back in the suit or if somebody else had taken over.