Happy or sad

 

At one of the local beaches in Cobden is this small mural on the side of a rubbish bin. The artist is Kieran Knutsford who was aged 11 at the time he painted this. I'm not sure what the story around it is but it looks like a child who is happy and sad when the parent is feeling the same.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Flowers

I spotted this small mural on the outside of a door at one of the local water filtering buildings in Greymouth. The artist is Fi Ginivan who is a local artist.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Waves

 

I can't remember where I first saw this but I suspect it was in Kaitaia when we visited there about 5 years ago. It looks to me like it is Maori artwork that symbolises waves and the ocean and it would've been a photo I took as we drove past.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Van murals

 

Quite often in this country painted travel vans are something we see regularly. The first one I think is some sort of Maori design and not sure what the second one is, peraps something outer space-ish?

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Pukeko

I have been meaning to get photos of this mural for ages. It features one of our birds, the Pukeko on the side of a bush shed at the Kumara Junction between Greymouth and Hokitika.

The artist is Rae Eder-Hopkinson. Pukeko is the New Zealand name for the purple Swamphen and it is believed to have come here about a thousand years ago from Australia.

These birds are commonly seen looking for food along the side of ditches, damp areas, creeks etc - they are very pretty in colour. I had to lighten these photos considerably as it was quite overcast.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Kumete Kai

 

I saw th is mural on the side of a the local library building when were in Pukekohe for the day last year in November. Painted by artist Regan Belzer the name of it is "Kumete Kai" - a food bowl for the mind. It was blessed by mana whenua and the artist was helped by local Pukekohe High School students. The food bowl idea represents the local area's fertile soil, waterways and plentiful food. 

The idea also goes with the library and "Te Kai a te Rangatira" - the food of the chief is korero - as a place where people gather to to share knowledg, consider, discuss and learn.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

New Brighton

 

While driving through New Brighton last December I spotted this mural on the fence next to one of the local supermarkets.

Painted by artist Dove Finch it depicts the local area with the library, the bridge, beach and dolphins.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Natives

 

Recently when we visited Murchison I spotted this colourful mural on the front of the local skatepark building. The artist is Sean Duffell it was initiated by the Murchison Youth Council as phase 1 of refurbishment of the area. I call this one "Natives" as I can see many New Zealand icons in there such as Trout, Kea, a Wood Pigeon and a Morepork (Ruru).

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Ice creams

 

This mural has been painted onto another utility box outside one of the local takeaway shops, depicting ice creams it's perfect for our weather at the moment. Something nice and cool.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Footrot Flats

 

I spotted this dog kennel outside one of our local hardware stores. It's outside the front entrance in case customers want to let their pet rest there while they are inside. This little mural has been painted on the outside and features a border collie named "Dog" who lives on a farm. Back in the 1980s a movie was made from what was originally a comic strip "Footrot Flats" and was very popular.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Pitt Street Mural

 

Near the top of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street in Auckland City is this religious mural (as I think it looks) on the side of the one of the old buildings, it seems to be situated right next to the Methodist Church. I'm not sure who it is meant to depict but thanks to Tom the artist is Owen Dippie from Kawerau.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Womens institute

Last time I visited Westport I spotted this small mural on the side of one of the smaller buildings.

The Womens Institute branch here has been an important part of New Zealand for decades. So apparently it started in Canada, before making it's way to Great Britain. In 1919 a New Zealand woman Anna Jerome Spencer attended a craft exhibition in London. She was so impressed and investigated it with a thought of establishing it in New Zealand too.

Before the 2nd world war Anna and her friend Amy were based in Havelock North and the first meeting was held at Amy's home in January 1921 with Anna elected as president.

The first annual report of the institute provided a model for programmes until the 1990s. The movement slowly spread at first and by 1925 there were 6 institutes based in the Hawkes Bay region.

Over the years women in this organization have worked together to generate huge amounts of goods, services and funds for various causes both local and national.

These days Womens Institute groups have spread all over the country.

Linking up with Monday Murals.
 

Forest

I've been trying to find the artist of this mural on a utility box down one of the little side roads near Karangahape Road in Auckland City without luck but it shows a colourful forest scene with shades of green, red, yellow and brown, not something you would see in these parts.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Sun and clouds mural

 

Quite often around the country we sometimes see tourist vans or campavans that have been decorated by artists. I spotted this one in Hokitika recently featuring clouds and sun setting behind mountains - a typical New Zealand scene.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Buzzy Bee mural

 

Another utility box seen on the outskirts of central Greymouth. Most New Zealanders and Australians will recognize this one. The iconic "buzzy bee" is a wooden toy with wheels that babies and toddlers grow up with and makes a clicking noise when it's pulled along. Painted by Mark Haldane aka Raja the toy was originally created by Maurice Schlesinger around 1939/1940.

This is the same toy that Prince William was filmed playing with during the royal tour to New Zealand in 1983.

More about the lightning strike we had the other night. Apparently our neighbour across the road had one of the power poles outside her house blow up due to being struck so it ended up damaging some of the internal wire. Being not far away from her we were lucky not to end up in the same boat.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Family Feast

 

Here's something cool I saw in Westport recently on the side of a utility box. Painted by artist Maureen Mayo it depicts Tui family feasting on flowers from the Harakeke (flax) plant. I'm loving the colours.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Peter's Mural

So last Thursday my daughter and I drove to Westport with a friend. Our specific aim for the day was to visit some op shops - I didn't find anything in particular that I liked but I did see this mural on the side of one of the small buildings. Painted by artist Peter Hollis it depicts a scene of gold miners sluicing for gold at Soldier's Creek in Reefton around the 1860s/1870s. This mural is based on a drawing by Hugh Boscaven. Most of the West Coast of New Zealand is well known for it's gold mining history.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Whare Manaaki o te Tai Poutini

On the fence around one of Greymouth's local Maori groups named "Whare Manaaki o te Tai Poutini" (a space for the whole community of Greymouth who offer programs around community meals, playgroups, te reo sessions, gardening etc) is this mural.

Apparently Christine Harvey from Christchurch Moko, her daughter and some of the Whare Manaaki team painted it. I like it, it's bright and colourful.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Kaeo Connectivity

 Is anyone else having problems with Blogger at the moment? It all started with me trying to add a new blog link but for some reason the widget I'm using within the theme won't save or do anything. Until I get it sorted out I've had to remove my blog links and will try putting them up again shortly, so if you don't see your blog in my favourites don't worry I'll still come visit everyone.

Anyway, my contribution for this week's Monday Mural is this illustration I saw in Kaeo just after Winter this year.  Someone has painted these colourful words on the side of a public loo next to the local playground. I haven't managed to find who the artist is but the words are about family connections, whanau (family), coming together and connectivity. It certainly brightens up the small town.

Kia kaha.

Tane Mahuta Mural

Last time I was in Ohaeawai and opposite the hotel is this mural on the back of a shed also masquerading as a corner shop. Named "Tane Mahuta" it was painted by Sean Duffell.  Tane Mahuta is located in the Waipoua Forest, our country's largest Kauri tree. In most nature walks where there are Kauris there are also cleaning stations where people need to stop and disinfect their shoes before walking through to the pathways.

According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth mother. Tane was the child who tore his parents parental embrace and once done set about clothing his mother in the forest we have today.  All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane's children.

Linking up with Monday Murals.