Katikati Open Air Art is appealing to the community to support its new mural project, which will see fresh artwork painted on the exterior of The Arts Junction building.
The need for a new mural stemmed from building repairs undertaken last year, funded by Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The council owns the building – formerly the town’s old library – and leases it to The Arts Junction.
According to the council, the building had weather-damaged areas repaired and improvements made. This included removing the old glass entranceway, dismantling the southern wall and adding a small retaining wall to keep the building dry. The leaking roof was also repaired and repainted.
Katikati Open Air Art (KOAA) manager Peri St John-Ives said the Te Wao Tapu Nui O Tane Mahuta mural – painted on The Arts Junction façade by artist Shane Walker – sadly couldn’t be saved.
The mural Te Wao-tapu-nui-a-Tane - The Domain of Tane was commissioned by DOC in association with KOAA in 2019 for The Arts Junction. Photo / Anna Menendez
The mural was a joint project between KOAA and the Department of Conservation in 2019.
“It was painted directly on to the building, not on panels ... it literally crumbled in the builder’s hands. We tried everything to save it, but it could not be restored,” she said.
Since then, St John-Ives had conducted a community survey on what local people wanted to see in a new mural.
She then brought together mana whenua, Katch Katikati, the Department of Conservation, Project Parore, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and KOAA representatives for a creative workshop led by Tauranga muralist Millie Pidwell on May 21, to explore the vision, purpose and creative direction of a new mural.
The group agreed it needed to be vibrant, bold, welcoming and full of Katikati identity, St John-Ives said. The building’s whole exterior would be painted.
“We considered putting the mural on panels but the council don’t want us to drill new holes into the building. So it will be painted directly on to the walls.”
The creative goals are to make a mural that celebrates Katikati’s uniqueness, strengthens local identity and pride; reflects The Arts Junction’s creative spirit; visually energises the space, creates a welcoming experience; encourages connection between people, place, culture and environment; balances bold impact with meaningful storytelling; and becomes a recognisable town landmark,” St John-Ives said.
“Millie will be the project lead, and artists Marino Magee and Richard Samuels will work on the southern wall, which will have a mana whenua focus.”
The southern wall previously displayed KOAA’s Sunday in a Bush Camp mural painted by Matamata artist Anne de Silva in the early 1990s. “That mural had rotted and couldn’t be saved either,” St John-Ives said.
The Sunday in a Bush Camp mural painted by Matamata artist Anne de Silva in the early 1990s, was rotten and couldn’t be salvaged. Photo / Anna Menendez
She said it was exciting to continue growing Aotearoa’s largest community-owned art collection in Katikati – and KOAA’s focus had pivoted to increase the amount of artwork from different cultures of residents that live in the community.
“There are 92 murals and only a small percentage are from mana whenua [local Māori], so we’re trying to create a bit more balance.
“We’re very passionate about Māori art at the moment, then we’ll look at Pasifika art and then Indian – and eventually try to look at the cultures of all people who live here.
“The community survey said that is what the community wants.”
For the back and northern walls, St John-Ives planned to involve Katikati College students.
“I’m really keen to get them to be part of the mural’s creation.
“We want it to feel like a real community effort – so people can walk past and say they’ve painted a little bit themselves.”
The Arts Junction's southern wall mural will have a mana whenua focus. Photo / Merle Cave
She said while the artists worked on the mural concept plan, she was busy finding the $80,000 required to make the project happen.
“We’ve raised about $30,000 [so far]. We’re very grateful to OceanaGold, TECT, Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Matching Fund and the Acorn Foundation for their support.”
With the artists booked to begin work at the start of February 2027, St John-Ives needed to secure the remaining $50,000 to bring the vision to life.
“If you’d like to support this project, donations will be gladly accepted. Email info@katikatiopenairart.co.nz.”
St John-Ives said KOAA had future plans to recreate Walker’s mural.
“I’ve spoken to [the] council and we’re going to look at recreating it in a location that makes a bit more sense. That’s in the pipeline but we haven’t got a location yet, but it’s something we want to do.”