By Roselyn Fauth
What began as a single painted mushroom fairy house grew into a 5,000-member creative movement in just one month... connecting strangers, getting people outdoors, and breaking down barriers to public art. Along the way, I learned that creativity is more powerful when the focus is on the process, not perfection, and that even the simplest ideas can transform a community and make a difference to peoples lives...
How Painted Stones Built a Stronger Community
It started with a conversation with my cousin from Whanganui. She told me about a quirky activity where people painted rocks, hid them in public spaces, and left them for others to find. At first, it sounded a little random. But the more I thought about it, the more I could see the potential — it was simple, creative, and something anyone could try.
That same day, I set up the Timaru Rocks Facebook group. My husband Chris came home for lunch and asked, “What’s this Timaru Rocks group you’ve made?” I explained the concept, and within hours we had 350 members. My first creations were tiny mushroom fairy houses, hidden in the Aigantighe Sculpture Garden.
From a Picnic to a Movement
I invited others to join me for a painting picnic at the Aigantighe gardens. Seven strangers came. In the sunshine, we painted, chatted, and by the end we were friends. The joy was in creating together, without the pressure of producing “gallery-worthy” art.
The idea took off. People began collecting, painting, and hiding rocks around town. I invited my new friends to help administer the group, and by the end of the first month we had 5,000 members. What had begun as an idea inspired by the North Island was now firmly rooted in the South.
Growing Creative Connections
We supported new rock groups in Ashburton, Geraldine, Waimate, Hokitika, and Greymouth. We created ground rules to keep it safe and respectful — don’t put rocks in shops, cemeteries, or national parks, and be mindful of council mowing.
I developed resource sheets to inspire creativity, and we learned together — like discovering that Mod Podge turned sticky in frost, and marine-grade varnish worked best for treasured designs.
We brought rock painting to festivals and events, from the Rose Festival to Children’s Day. At busy events, we pre-painted hundreds of rocks in bright base colours, sprayed them with a clear varnish, and used paint pens so children could decorate without mess.
Monthly themes added meaning — from Peace Rocks marking the anniversary of New Zealand becoming nuclear-free, to safety-themed rocks for the local fire service. After the Christchurch mosque attacks, we sent painted rocks north to be hidden by local groups as a message of solidarity and care.
Lighting Up the Night
One of my favourite events was the night-time lighting festival at the Timaru Botanic Gardens. Chris and I painted hundreds of neon rocks, marked them with a Timaru Rocks stamp, and hid them for people to find under blacklight torches. The effect was magical, and the Aigantighe Gallery raised extra funds by selling light-up products and displaying large, inspiring painted rocks.
Inclusive Creativity
I ran rock painting workshops with Timaru Girls’ High School boarders, Timaru Boys’ High art students, the Red Hatters, pre-schools, primary schools, and retirement homes.
One memorable moment was at a rest home. I gave instructions, but residents didn’t respond — until a caregiver quietly told me they had dementia. On instinct, I sang the steps to the tune of Knick-Knack Paddy-Whack, just like I had with my nana. Suddenly, the room came alive. The quality of the rocks didn’t matter — what mattered was the joy, the movement, and the shared moment. Residents hid their creations in the garden, making rock hunts with family part of their routine.
With business support, I built two large rock painting kits to loan out and gave smaller ones to rest homes to keep.
Why It Worked
Timaru Rocks was successful because it was low-cost, accessible, and process-focused. Anyone could grab a couple of rocks, a brush, and some leftover paint. Because the rocks were to be hidden for someone else to find, there was no pressure for perfection — the focus was on the joy of creating and the kindness of giving.
It was also a catalyst for physical activity. People explored parks, beaches, and gardens in search of treasures. First-time visitors came to the Aigantighe gardens and gallery and later became regulars. Themed rocks connected us to history and culture, while special projects linked volunteers to local businesses.
And yes — art can heal. It gives people space to think, to process emotions, and to find calm while creating. I saw it in every workshop, every painting picnic, and every quiet moment of concentration on a rock.
A Council-Friendly Initiative
Timaru Rocks was an easy, low-cost initiative for the council to support, delivering on wellbeing outcomes across all four pillars:
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Social – fostering friendships and a sense of belonging
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Cultural – celebrating creativity and breaking down barriers to public art spaces
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Economic – boosting foot traffic to public spaces, events, and businesses
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Environmental – encouraging exploration and respect for our natural spaces
It showed that small, community-led creative projects can have a big return in community wellbeing.
What We Learned
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The process is often more valuable than the product.
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Inclusivity means adapting — singing instructions, simplifying tools, or pre-preparing materials.
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Themes and partnerships add depth and broaden impact.
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Art can bridge gaps between strangers, generations, and cultures.
Local Impact Validated by National Evidence
Our Timaru experience reflects national and international research on the arts:
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59% of young New Zealanders say arts activities help them make new friends (Creative NZ, 2022).
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Creative spaces promote confidence, belonging, and inclusion (Manatū Taonga, 2019).
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Arts activities can improve public safety by offering positive options for at-risk youth (NORC, 2021).
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Group arts participation fosters cooperation and inclusion across cultures (WHO, 2019).
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Public art initiatives activate spaces, build community pride, and even boost the economy (Kākano Youth Arts Collective, 2016).
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Creative activities in crisis settings can reduce anxiety and foster healing (WHO, 2019).
Legacy
While COVID-19 slowed rock painting due to concerns about shared touchpoints, its legacy lives on. A few people still create and hide rocks, and I smile whenever I see one.
More importantly, Timaru Rocks taught me that creativity is a powerful tool for connection, wellbeing, and community pride. It was the springboard for WuHoo Timaru, which now creates scavenger hunts, trails, and challenges to keep that spirit alive.
From a handful of painted mushroom houses to thousands of community-made treasures, Timaru Rocks proved that small ideas can spark big change.
