Street Art Hunt

The murals popping up around the Timaru District are doing something really special. They’re helping bring our communities together, adding energy to our towns, and making our shared spaces feel more alive.

In places like Timaru’s CBD, they’re drawing people in, supporting local businesses, and creating something people can feel proud of. And while they definitely have economic benefits, what’s really powerful is the way they tell stories. Stories about who we are, our history, our values, and our identity as a district. Each one adds to the bigger picture of our local culture.

A massive thank you to the team at Timaru Alive and Vibrant. Your work with building owners, artists, and the wider community is transforming the look and feel of the CBD. The murals have brought colour, energy, and meaning to the heart of Timaru. They’ve made heritage buildings feel fresh again while still respecting their history.

Also big thanks to the Timaru Civic Trust. Their support means these murals are being looked after properly, so they’ll be part of the community for a long time to come.

If you’re in town, take a stroll and see how many you can spot. Each one has something to say.

It’s also worth thinking about the stories we choose to share through public art. Whose voices are being represented? What’s being highlighted—and what’s missing? These murals have a lot to say, and when the process includes a wide range of voices and experiences, the outcome becomes even more powerful.

Matt Willey.
Scout Bee 2025

Timaru has become the first town in New Zealand to join The Good of the Hive, a global art initiative by New York artist Matt Willey. The project aims to paint 50,000 bees – the average number in a healthy hive – in murals around the world to highlight themes of health, community, and human connection.

Willey recently arrived in Timaru to paint a scout bee on the ANZ Bank building at Strathallan Corner. This bee joins 11,000 others that Willey has painted in 60 murals across 10 countries on five continents. He typically spends four to six weeks in each location, engaging with the community through events and discussions, using the mural as a way to foster connection.

His visit to Timaru was prompted by an exchange with a local artisan involved in a bee-themed community art project. Inspired by the shared passion for bees and public art, Willey decided to make Timaru part of his journey. A larger mural is under consideration, with approvals and funding currently being sought.

The project began in 2008 when a single bee entered Willey’s New York studio. He spent hours observing the bee before it died, prompting him to research colony collapse disorder and its devastating impact. This encounter became the catalyst for his mission. Willey believes bees offer lessons for humanity – they are not defined by race, gender, or politics, and their survival depends on the collective well-being of the hive rather than the individual.

Julie King
 
LOCATION: Caroline Bay
 
Te Maru Place of Shelter Caroline BayTe Maru Place of Shelter Caroline Bay 2Te Maru Place of Shelter Caroline Bay 3
 
The mural down at the bay has lots of clues to unravel from our history. There is a portrait with the name Te Rehe. Do you know who he was?
"Te Rehe was a Kāi Tahu leader in the 19th century. Te Rehe and his sons regularly guided surveyors and government agents through the South Canterbury region and hosted them at Te Waiateruatī pā on the Ōrakipaoa River. ... In the summer of 1843-44, Edward Shortland (Protector for the Aborigines) travelled the length of the east coast of Te Waipounamu undertaking a census of the southern Māori population. Accompanied by two Māori guides from the North Island, Shortland’s party was also joined by several different Ngāi Tahu guides on various legs of the journey. Among these guides were Poua and Tarawhata, the sons of the Kāti Huirapa rangatira (chief), Te Rehe."
"The Bishop entered South Canterbury on 13 January 1844 crossing the Rangitata near the mouth and then following along the coast to the Ohape river (now the Orari) which he crossed and then turned inland, observing in his journal: Bishop Selwyn reaches Waiateruati holding a morning service and registering the names including those absent. Two days later at Dashing Rocks he baptised the child of Te Rehe, who lived there with his wife in a hut, and describe the local area mentioning the old whaling station."
- A Record of Settlement
Te Rehe's portrait was drawn by Walter Mantell in October 1848, you can see the sketchbook here: https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/ka-ara.../wairewa-to-waitarakao

Koryu Aoshima
Breath of Life. 2023.
(Section in the image)

LOCATION: ​Manawa ora Building (Kathmandu car park)

​"I wish to express the breath of life with a girl playing in nature. Nature breathes as we breathe. We need to pass this on to the next generation, just like the spreading seeds of dandelions "

Koryu is a Dunedin based artist.

"Manawa Ora building owners (Wilson family and co) who entrusted us with adding not just a pretty picture on their building, but a gorgeous piece of art that spoke to their values of 'a breath of life' and their passion for our gem of a town and its history. These projects would not happen without the support from Timaru Civic Trust and the decades of work they've done to ensure our stunning heritage buildings remain to be seen by future generations and visitors to South Canterbury. We love enhancing our historic architecture with vibrant art and we're looking forward to the next project." - Civic Trust

About the Building

The Orari Buildings, Stafford St, Timaru (Timaru Herald article - Sat 4th February, 2023)
The ‘Orari Buildings’, as they were originally known, are located at the north end of Stafford Street overlooking Caroline Bay and are currently serving as the canvas for the latest piece of urban street art to be gifted to the people of Timaru.
As this issue goes to print, street artist Koryu Aoshima is putting the final touches on his spectacular mural adorning the south side of this prominent heritage building. This latest urban art project is another collaborative commission funded by the Timaru Civic Trust, Alive Vibrant Timaru and the current owners of the building, the Wilson family.
Erected in 1925 by William K Macdonald (1863-1927) of Orari Station, the Orari Buildings originally comprised 7 shops at ground level and a tea rooms on the first floor.
It was designed by the renowned Timaru architect Herbert Hall, who was also responsible for designing the (now demolished) 1912 Hydro Grand Hotel on the opposite corner (also commissioned by Macdonald).
Hall also designed St David’s Pioneer Memorial Church in Cave, which won a NZ Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1934, as well as the magnificent Chateau Tongariro at Mount Ruapehu (1928).
The two-storey triangular shaped building, with its rounded corner and its two principal facades facing Stafford St and the Port Loop Road, is designed in a relatively restrained commercial classicism style. First floor windows set within recessed arches are symmetrically grouped, with the central windows articulated by arched mouldings and swag motifs. A prominent cornice runs around the top of the building, topped by a parapet.
A large neon sign with the words ‘Players Please’ (advertising Players cigarettes), used to sit above the roof and it became a prominent Timaru landmark until it was removed in the mid 1960’s.
Known as the Mascot Finance building from the 1980’s, it has recently been renamed ‘Manawa Ora’ (meaning ‘breath of life’), which is also the theme of Koryu’s spectacular mural.

 

 

Aroha Novak
Wall Flowers. 2018

LOCATION: Community House, Strathallan Street

After much googling and research at the library about the history of Timaru, Aroha decided to keep this particular composition simple but nostalgic “as a little girl, I loved the Mount Cook lily logo, and always wanted to travel on one of their planes”. It references the former Mount Cook Airlines logo of the Mount Cook lily, creating a wallpaper pattern on the side of the building." - Aroha Novak, Dunedin based artist

"The Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury is very pleased to be associated with the Timaru Civic Trust’s street art project. Aroha Novak’s work will contribute to the vibrancy of the Timaru CBD and we were only too pleased to offer our blank Community House wall as the canvas. The end result will be a visually impressive counterpoint to Community House’s heritage frontage and a colourful celebration of the unique Mt Cook buttercup and its fragile and vulnerable ecosystem." - Community House, Timaru

Aroha Novak's Mt Cook Lily Dunedin artist Aroha Novak’s mural – on the side of Community House in Strathallan St – also has a nature theme in the form of Mt Cook lilies painted to resemble wallpaper. Novak said it was a nostalgic reference to the Mt Cook Airlines logo, which featured the Mt Cook lily. A few doors down you'll find the crew at the Ship Hop Brewery.  They are open on Fridays from lunchtime until around 7pm. And if you're in need of a decent steak, check out Customs Steak House.

Brought to you by: Timaru Civic Trust & Alive Vibrant Timaru

Aroha Novak
Te Tihi-o-Maru. 2020
LOCATION: D.C. Turnbull Building, Strathallan Street Timaru.

 

Aroha Novak DCTurnbullBuilding Timaru 2020 Photo WuHooTimaru

Aroha Novak Te Tihi-o-Maru. 2020 - Photography by Roselyn Fauth

 

Aroha Novak's Te Tihi-o-Maru

Timaru's second Aroha Novak mural was completed in July 2020.  The ti kouka or cabbage tree-centred painting was designed to look like a vintage postcard, of Timaru pre European settlement.

“The design is my idea of Timaru pre-settlement. It’s like vintage postcard.  The site it’s on is quite long, narrow, and in portrait – so the star of the image is a tī kouka.”

Novak said she chose a cabbage tree because it was “intrinsically” tied to the name Timaru or Te Tihi-o-Maru, its Māori equivalent.

“There are different interpretations of what Timaru is derived from. One point is Te Maru, which means place of shelter. The other is Tī Maru, shelter or cabbage tree.”

DC Turnbull Ltd commissioned the mural on the back of a movement by Timaru Civic Trust and Alive Vibrant Timaru to bring street art to the South Canterbury town.

 

 

Flox
Te Maru/The Shelter. 2018

LOCATION: Hector Blacks back wall

“The Shelter” acknowledges the geographical, historical and cultural significances of Timaru and the greater South Canterbury. 

Paying homage to the town’s possible original name “Te Maru” (The Shelter), the natural peak of the building facade was a drawcard in conveying this simple statement. The Cabbage Tree also makes itself known, making reference to another possible meaning of the town’s name:
Timaru was a sheltered spot geographically and deemed worthy by early Maori as a place of rest on their long journeys up and down the eastern coastline. Nowadays, in a more contemporary context, the port has been transformed and refurbished into a modern outdoor environment where people can relax, socialise and come together as a community. The mural aspires to contribute to this. 

Like all of Flox’s outdoor pieces, the artwork also pays homage to a number of native species found in the South Canterbury region, both critical and now extinct.
A Huia and the skeleton of a Moa perch against a backdrop of stylised mountains, a representation of our national losses, while beneath a vista of Caroline Bay, the threatened Long Tailed Bat, Weta and local Mudfish take centre stage in a bid for recognition.

Flox's The Shelter

Internationally renowned street artist Hayley King, aka Flox, came to Timaru and completed her epic mural in just four days. Her artist statement said her environmentally themed artwork referenced the area, including paying homage to Timaru’s original name, “Te Maru” (the Shelter).  Represented in the stunning mural are the cabbage tree, a huia, moa skeleton, long-tailed bat, weta, and mudfish against the backdrop of the mountains and Caroline Bay. "It's just a celebration of the natural world." The area around here is historic and there's so much to do.  You have plenty of choices in eateries including Koji Tepanyaki and Grill, Street food Kitchen, Speights Ale House, Hector Blacks and The Oxford. Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre is a must-do interactive cultural experience, which is in the same area of the historic Landing Services Building as the Information Centre.

 

Toothfish
Kaupapa (Plankton). 2018

LOCATION:  This wall is on the back of the Willmotts Workwear Building in The Royal Arcade, in full view of the Timaru Herald and Timaru District Council!

Painted by Dunedin environmental activist and artist "Toothfish", this stunning red environment-themed mural incorporates plant and plankton images.

Toothfish’s wall is a mixture of plant and animal plankton. Plankton are the very bedrock of all of the food chains in the ocean. Without them there would be no fish. Plankton are also the driving force of the carbon cycle. Humans burn coal and oil derived from the remains of prehistoric plankton and a goody percentage of the carbon released in this process is ‘sucked’ up by plant plankton in the ocean who produce oxygen for us to breathe.

Toothfish says that plankton are the “bedrock” of the ocean food chain, as well as the driving force of the carbon cycle: "Humans burn coal and oil derived from the remains of prehistoric plankton and a good percentage of the carbon released in this process is sucked up by plant plankton in the ocean, which produce oxygen for us to breathe."

Painted by Dunedin environmental activist and artist "Toothfish".  This stunning red, environment themed mural, incorporates plant and plankton images.

His artist statement said that plankton were the “bedrock” of the ocean food chain, as well as the driving force of the carbon cycle.

“Humans burn coal and oil derived from the remains of prehistoric plankton and a good percentage of the carbon released in this process is sucked up by plant plankton in the ocean, who produce oxygen for us to breathe.”

While you're in the area, wander down the historic Royal Arcade, constructed in the late 1880s.  It's now home to a row of offices, boutique new and second hand clothing stores, Artma's spiritual gallery, hair salons, and Rasa Asia's delicious food.

Kaos (Jesse Johnson)
Abstract Peacock. Miss Timaru Building Graffiti. 2022.

LOCATION:  The back of Miss Timaru via The Royal Arcade

Jessie Engineer and artist created the mural, and was inspired by Melbourne street art using a Graffiti style achieved using spray cans. It took about 16 hours.

Artwork commissioned by Timaru Civic Trust subcommittee Alive Vibrant Timaru. The group’s main objective is to put street art on heritage buildings as a way to activate spaces, and highlight and embrace them.

Kaos (Jesse Johnson)
Miss Timaru Building Grafitti. 2019.

LOCATION:  The back of Miss Timaru via The Royal Arcade

Jessie Engineer and artist created the mural, and was inspired by Melbourne street art using a grafitti style achieved using spray cans. It took about 16 hours.

Artwork commissioned by Timaru Civic Trust subcommittee Alive Vibrant Timaru. The group’s main objective is to put street art on heritage buildings as a way to activate spaces, and highlight and embrace them.

Koryu

LOCATIOJN: Peel Forest Public Toilets

Koryu PeelForest PublicToilets Square

A wander through a forest is just what our family needed last weekend. It's quiet and easy at Peel Forest. We hugged huge 1000 year old trees, saw flittering fantails, hunted for skeleton leaves, saw the new mural, the Dean's memorial and found old saw pits... find free family fun at Peel Forest