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.

Kawakawa vet mural

I spotted this mural on the side of the veterinary clinic in Kawakawa which was painted by kiwi artist Angela Newport who is originally from the Hokianga area but now lives in Canterbury. 

You can see more of her work on her website. Linking up with Mural Monday.

Ngapuhi Minds

 One of local shops in Moerewa has this mural on the front. I was unable to find out who painted it but the words "Ngati Hine Health Trust" are painted within it so maybe they have something to do with it. The trust was formed in 1987 to help address the health needs of local Maori to the area. The Ngapuhi tribe is associated with the Northland region of New Zealand centred mainly in Whangarei, Hokianga and the Bay of Islands.

So as Covid makes it's way continually around the world, the so called travel bubble we had going on with certain states in Australia seems to have blown up. One traveller, who apparently started feeling unwell on the plane over here from Sydney (I think) visited more than several places in Wellington (who is now in level 2) and now we are waiting to see if any cases come up. Somehow I don't think this so called travel bubble is a wise idea...

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Taupo Trout Mural

There are literally murals all over Taupo and when we were there on holiday I spotted this painting on the side of a cabinet (we can't work out whether it's a phone cabinet or what) of 2 Trout swimming. If you don't know much about Taupo it's a freshwater lake that is well known for Trout fishing and apparently you need a licence to go fishing there. 

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Totems + Milk

On our recent re-visit to the Symonds Street Cemetery right next to the Jewish section is this mural painted on the side of an old building. Named "Totems + Milk" it was painted by artist Reuben Winter who sadly was successful in committing suicide in 2020 with the dates "1994 - 2020" signifying his birth and death. 

Young Reuben suffered from chronic pain and fatigue illness, he also worked with many influential New Zealand artists. Such a talented young man will I'm surely be well missed.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

All Blacks Moerewa mural

 Another mural this week from Moerewa, this one depicting the All Blacks rugby along with the fern, and next to it say the words "Waka Ama" which is a term distinguishing an outrigger canoe from other types of canoes. No idea who painted this one but it's nice to see a rendition of the late Jonah Lomu on there. 

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Moerewa Rugby Club Mural

 I spotted this mural in Moerewa recently painted on the side of their rugby club. No idea who painted it but it's sad that people have sprayed graffiti over parts of it. Even above, the window off the building seems to be falling off, in a state of disrepair even.  One of New Zealand's small quiet towns...

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Fishing for compliments

 Another mural from Paihia this week and one I spotted on a bench seat outside a shop. Not sure who painted it but I'd say it's probably part of the "Focus Paihia" campaign. Pretty and unusual isn't it?

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Art on a Moerewa door

 My youngest son and I only usually drive our cars around our town so once in a while we take one of them for a blast out of town. Last week we drove to the town of Moerewa in his car, about 30 minutes away so I could take photos of the murals they have around town.

Without knowing who painted it, this mural sits on the outside of a garage door covering one of the local shops and symbolizes Cape Reinga, a mountain, kiwis, birds, waves and I think lizards. It's very reminiscent of Maori artwork.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Kiwi in Paihia

 My daughter and I spotted this mural in Paihia just before Christmas on the side of a phone cabinet, we have attempted to find out who painted it without luck. In case you're not familiar with Kiwi birds; they are noctural, mostly come out of the bush at night to hunt for food like worms, insects etc. They are flightless with long beaks and they are one of our protected birds. 

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Karetu School Mural

 I was in Kawakawa last week with my 2 adult children. In Summer if you don't get to your destination by at least 10am the temperature tends to rise to the point where you really don't want to be outside and most of the car parking is taken.  The 3 of us have very very fair skin so we have to wear sun scream whenever we can as we don't tan.

While they were off getting lunch I spotted this mural down an alleyway. I have to say I think it's really really clever artwork with all the different Maori imagery. Painted as part of Karetu School mural project in 2011 and measures 10 x 2 it apparently started off as a backdrop to a school play but ended up winning a "Keep NZ Beautiful" award before being scaled up then painted onto a treated plywood panel with ceramic, wood and metail details. 

It was blessed by Kaumatua (Maori elder) Bill Cherrington followed by a waiata (song) from the children, an explanation of how it came about and a haka.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Ina Te Papatahi

In 2018 before we left Tauranga I spotted this mural along The Strand near the waterfront. Named "Ina Te Papatahi" by an artist named Owen Dippie who has painted walls in New Zealand, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. He is also involved in Suicide Awareness Outreach and Breast Cancer Research.

This one originally created by Charles Goldie in 1902 shows her traditional facial moko and smoking a pipe.  He painted 17 more portraits of this Ngapuhi Chieftainess and from 1902 until 1941 Goldie continued to immortalise the images of Maori Elders.  His work is featured in several New Zealand art museums.

How has your weekend been so far? As usual I've spent my Saturday and Sunday at work and I'm loving being able to spend alot of that time outside in the garden centre that employs me.  Earlier this week I spent one day cleaning our fishing rods, they were quite dirty and the rods were sticking and not running smoothly. 

I also made the boys a kiwi Pavlova which didn't last long and we have been planning our holiday next year to Napier by thinking about places we would like to visit along the way.

Arohanui to you.

Linking up with Mural Monday 

A school of fish in Okaihau

So this week for something to do I visited Okaihau, another local town about 25 minutes away.  Okaihau was originally the place of a Maori village when the settlers arrived on the ridge which stands between Lake Omapere and the Hokianga Harbour.  The name means "feast of the winds" referring to the location of the town on a ridge over 200m above sea level.  As of 2018 there were approx 1236 people living there including on the outskirts.

I spotted this very fishy mural on the outside of the local cafe and despite me searching there is no sign of the artist but I do like the colours.

I hope you're staying safe wherever you are. We are hibernating hard out here and facing another rainy weekend with wind warnings.  Tomorrow I have a box of clothes to drop off at one of our local op shops but apart from that it's going to be a quiet Monday. Kia kaha.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Rame Yoh - Robot Fish

I was going through some of my photos from a few years ago when we lived in Mount Maunganui, I had forgotten about this mural I had snapped a photo of which was painted on a building along the main street.

Robotic Fish (as I call it) was painted by Rame Yoh as part of the Street Prints Mauao Campaign from 2015 - 2017. Apparently there was more around the back of the building but I didn't realize this hence me only getting this side.

I love the idea of artists painting buildings, I think it discourages untidy graffiti and allows them to show off their talents.

Linking up with Mural Monday and Our World Tuesday.