Unique artworks celebrate Whanganui in new streetscapes

Published on 18 June 2024

With the final touches being done on the Streets for People projects on Guyton and St Hill streets, the new streetscapes are now filled with artworks celebrating Whanganui’s identity – and reflecting our status as a UNESCO City of Design.

Ninety-percent funded by NZTA Waka Kotahi, the projects have provided an opportunity for our local art and design talents to showcase their works across the new streetscapes – from the recently completed floral (biophilic) pavement art on Guyton Street to the unique bus shelter patterns on lower St Hill Street.

Whanganui District Deputy Mayor, Helen Craig, says it’s brilliant to see so much new art gracing our town centre, with more than 20 new pieces on display across both spaces.

“As well as bringing a much-needed splash of colour and creativity to our streets, the art and design pieces tell interesting stories about the things that make Whanganui so special. I’d strongly encourage people take a stroll through central Guyton Street and lower St Hill Street and check it all out!”

One such interesting story can be found within the designs on the bus shelters at the new transport hub at St Hill Street. Created by local Tupoho artists, the bus shelter designs celebrate the native kūaka (bar-tailed godwit) and their amazing 12,000km migration from Alaska to Whanganui. The kūaka’s journey is the single longest, non-stop migration of any animal on the planet.

Alongside Māori design and colours that connect to Te Taiao (nature), the shelter patterns also feature motifs from the Yupik tribes of Alaska, some of whom visited Whanganui recently to view the kūaka nesting sites here.

Another highlight for arts lovers is the light boxes that now illuminate Guyton Street. As well as providing lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere on the street, the lightboxes will act as revolving galleries providing a platform for local artists to showcase their works to the community.

The works currently on display represent a mix of Iwi and wider community art in a range of artforms including paintwork, digital design, sculpture – and even poetry by celebrated local artist, the late Joan Bullock Morrell in one of the lightboxes as part of the Guyton Group Trust’s larger Poetry Trail.

Another creative focal point is the stunning mural painted by Tamaupoko artist, Aroha Ranginui, at the new Corwen Park space at 94 Guyton Street.

Aroha says the mural, entitled ‘Te Papa Tākaro o Poutama, Tamariki o te Awa’, depicts “our tupuna landscape which in turn reflects the Whanganui whakataukī (proverb):

E rere kau mai te Awa nui Mai i te Kahui Maunga Tangaroa

Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au

The Great River Flows from the Mountains to the Sea

I am the River and the River is me.”

The final elements still to be completed on the projects include special heritage panels highlighting the rich history of Guyton Street – which will be displayed on vacant shop windows alongside the Iwi art already in place – as well as some sculptural elements in Corwen Park.

Contributing artists for the Streets for People projects include: Adrian Campbell, Arama Tuka, Aroha Ranginui, Bill Ranginui, Boboy Takiari, Catherine Macdonald, Cecelia Kumeroa, Fleur Wickes, Kalia Andrews, Lesley Stead, Maehe Ranginui, Maihi Potaka, Renee Hassan, Tapiri o Te Rangi Pirikahu, Victoria Campbell and Yasmin Dupont.

For more information about the Streets for People project, and to have your say on the changes being trialled on Guyton Street and/or St Hill Street, visit whanganui.govt.nz/streets-for-people