Sign In / Register
A wave of new and refreshed public artworks is transforming parks, reserves and public facilities across Kaipara, celebrating local stories and showcasing the district’s creative talent.
Kaipara District Council has worked with local artists, schools and community groups to create a growing outdoor gallery across the district’s parks, reserves and public facilities. The latest works celebrate local stories, showcase homegrown talent and brighten everyday gathering places.
The latest artworks can be found around the region including at Sellar Reserve and Wood Street in Mangawhai, Herbert Linnell Reserve near Kaiwaka, and beneath the Kaiwaka State Highway bridge.
Kaipara District Council community and engagement advisor Jess Holdaway said public art helped bring shared spaces to life and strengthen their connection to local communities.
“Parks, libraries, markets and other shared spaces are where community life happens,” she said.
“Art helps bring these places to life. Sometimes the idea starts with the community, sometimes it grows out of a council project, but they work best when local people are involved. Council can help with public spaces, coordination and practical support, while communities bring the stories, creativity and local knowledge that make each artwork feel like it belongs.”
Sellar Reserve
At Sellars Reserve, Mangawhai artist Sarah C Art has refreshed a popular mural, highlighting the importance of maintaining and renewing public artworks so they remain vibrant and welcoming.
The refreshed mural features stylised black-and-white orca swimming alongside stingrays through a textured ocean of blues and greens, reflecting familiar visitors to the Mangawhai Estuary.
“Orca arrive with the incoming tide, gliding into Mangawhai Harbour to hunt stingrays in the shallows,” Sarah, the artist, said.
“Word spreads fast, locals drift to the shoreline, and for a moment everything pauses.”
Where to find it: Sellar Reserve public toilets, off Alamar Crescent, Mangawhai Heads.
At Wood Street, an aerial coastal image by local photographer Andy Bruce of Elevated Media wraps the new public toilets beside the playground. Featuring Mangawhai Heads Beach and Te Arai, the artwork brings sweeping views of sand, sea and shoreline to the revitalised precinct.
Kaipara District Council said the piece helps “transform a practical community facility into a welcoming feature of one of Mangawhai’s busiest commercial and social hubs”.
Where to find it: Behind the Wood Street shops, near the new playground, Mangawhai.
At Herbert Linnell Reserve in Kaiwaka, local artist Joseph Paikea has transformed the public toilet block with a colourful mural of fish. Located beside the boat ramp, the artwork reflects the reserve’s connection with the Kaipara Harbour and creates a distinctive landmark for locals, boaties and visitors.
“The fish bring rhythm, movement and colour to an everyday community facility, echoing the life of the water beside it and adding a stronger sense of place to the reserve,” the council said.
Where to find it: Hubert Linnell Reserve, at the end of Rangiora Road, Kaiwaka.
And Joseph Paikea’s familiar mural beneath the State Highway bridge in Kaiwaka has been refreshed, preserving a colourful landmark that contributes to the town’s identity and sense of place.
Where to find it: Beneath the Kaiwaka State Highway bridge, Kaiwaka.
Council said that together, the recent murals add to the many public artworks that have been part of Kaipara communities for some time, including those at Paparoa public facilities, the MAZ toilets and water tank in Mangawhai Community Park, the Maungatūroto public toilets and others.
“They showcase the breadth of artistic talent across Kaipara and the many ways creativity continues to enrich everyday community spaces.”
Holdaway said the artworks were deeply connected to their communities and reflected the people, places and stories that made Kaipara unique.
“Each artwork reflects a different place, person or story, creating a colourful record of creativity right across Kaipara,” she said.
