Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans, Napier New Zealand

Have I told you I love street art? Ever since David and I stumbled across the Open Air Museum in Valparaiso, Chile, I have been a street art addict, tracking it down wherever we go. Napier, it turns out, is a street art addict's idea of heaven.

In March 2016, Napier hosted the Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans public art project in New Zealand. In collaboration with the PangeaSeed Foundation, Napier City Council brought 30 national and international artists to the city to transform 29 blank walls into stunning works of art. In keeping with PangeaSeed's mission to educate and inform on oceanic environmental issues, the murals draw on the theme of threats to the health of the world's oceans. In February 2017, when we visited Napier, the murals looked as fresh and bright as though they were painted yesterday.

In March 2017 Sea Walls has come to Napier again. Judging by the works in progress, this year's murals will be as beautiful, bright and thought provoking as last years.


Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Marine Protected Areas - Interrelationship Between Species & Habitats by Jason Botkin & Cinzah. At the National Aquarium of New Zealand on Marine Parade.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Marine Protected Areas - Interrelationship Between Species & Habitats by Jason Botkin & Cinzah. At the National Aquarium of New Zealand on Marine Parade.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Endangered Seabirds by Charles & Janine Williams. At Napier Port.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Marine Protected Areas by Aaron Glasson. At Nelson Quay, on the lighthouse.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Marine Protected Areas by Aaron Glasson. At Nelson Quay, on the lighthouse.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Ingested Plastic Pollution - Lonely Whale by Dside.  At Customs Quay

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Hammerhead Data Translation by Lauren Ys. At West Quay.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Ocean Pollution by Elliot Francis Stewart. At West Quay.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Plastic Pollution by Meggs & Phibs. Opposite the Napier City Council.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
Climate Change - Ocean Acidification by Askew One.  The Napier City Council building in Hastings St.

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans
NZ Endangered Seabirds by Celeste Byers. Dickens Street in the car park.


I have a favourite. Do you? Tell me in the comments section which one you like best.


My tips: -

  • Pick up a pamphlet at the I-Site & Visitor Information Centre. It contains a map showing where to find the murals as well as a short blurb on each.
  • Be quick if you want to see the artists at work, the 2017 Sea Walls Festival ends on 26 March.


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50 comments:

  1. I hope they don't paint over the previous years paintings, but find another 29 blank walls throughout the city. These pictures are beautiful.

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    1. Haha - I hadn't thought of that but there seemed to be plenty of blank walls around town so I don't think they paint over the old murals.

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  2. That is some of the most vibrant street art I've seen yet! I love it! (www.caliglobetrotter.wordpress.com) #wkendtravelinspiration

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  3. Those are spectacular murals. I'll have to get to Napier and see them in person. I like the bright colourful octopus.

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    1. The octopus is my favourite too. The mural itself is huge. I love the look on the sea-snake's face ,as if he doesn't quite know how he came face to face with the octopus.

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  4. Wow such pretty, bright colors! I love murals and these are fantastic! Great pictures! #wkendtravelinspiration

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  5. What wonderful murals and what a creative way of using blank space. I love the idea that they brought lots of artists together to work on this. The octopus and seabirds are my favourites, love the bright colours. #Wkendtravelinspiration

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    1. The octopus and the sea-snake, which are together in one mural were my favourites.

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  6. We're always on the lookout for street art too. My favorite is the sea turtle-very cool! Thanks for the inspiration; see you next week! #wkendtravelinspiration

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    1. It is great when you find really good street art in a place you didn't expect to see it.

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  7. I love these sorts of projects

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    1. Me too. There is one in Sydney, in the Newtown area, which I keep missing. Maybe this year!

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  8. We enjoy street art and hunt it down whenever we travel too. The hammerhead and the penguins are great, love the colours. What a great way to educate on environmental issues.

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    1. I have seen a street art post of yours on Fremantle (I think). I have tucked it away for our next visit.

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  9. What a nice surprise to be found! I really like when an murals like these are introduced to an area. These are so colorful! I think the penguin one is my favorite. #TPThursday

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  10. That was a great initiative by Napier City Council. I love srteet and public art too. It brings new life to down and out areas and enriches the lives of those who live there. :) Napier's art looks amazing.

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    1. It was so nice to see street art which hadn't been defaced by graffiti too.

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  11. Fabulous! I love the turtle. What a great idea to spruce up drear and dull streets.

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    1. My favourite is still the snake. The look on his face is priceless.

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  12. Yet another reason to go home....it has changed a lot over the years. I love street art too it brightens cities and makes exploring so much more interesting..my favourite is the penguin

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    1. You are in good company, more than one other person has chosen the penguin.

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  13. These murals are great. It's hard to pick a favourite, but I'm leaning toward Ocean Pollution.

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    1. Haha - you are the first person to use the title of the mural rather than just something like 'the penguin one'. I am going to have to scroll up and check which one 'Ocean Pollution' is.

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  14. These are fabulous murals. I'm thinking we may have a chance to visit Napier this fall - it would be great to see these walls!

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    1. Napier is a great destination. Not only will you get to see the murals but it is one of the best destinations for Art Deco and the cycle paths are lovely. Go here for my post on the Art Deco -http://www.thetravellinglindfields.com/2017/03/from-disaster-to-art-deco-in-napier-new.html

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  15. Gosh these murals are amazing. Truly inventive. Well done Napier, New Zealand - I'm longing to get over the Tasman Sea :)

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  16. Kudos to the Napier City Council for taking the initiative to do this. I think street art is gaining popularity in many cities and this collection was great. My favourite? Probably the first one, Marine Protected Areas - Interrelationship Between Species & Habitats. Love all the colours used.

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    1. Marine Protected Areas is my favourite too. It is absolutely huge, painted on the side of the aquarium buidling.

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  17. We just saw these murals in November 2016, and they were wonderful. We enjoyed Napier and wished we had spent an extra day there.

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    1. There will be a whole lot more murals now. The festival was held again this year, just a week or so ago.

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  18. I'm a big street art fan, and these are all So beautiful! I love the large size and the bright colors! It's hard to choose a favorite, but if i had to it would be: Marine Protected Areas - Interrelationship Between Species & Habitat #theweekendpostcard

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    1. Marine Protected Areas is definitely the front runner for readers' favourites. It is my favourite too.

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  19. Street Art is definitely fast becoming one of the most popular sights to see in any city. In our RTW trip this year so many places were raving about their street art. The colours here are so vibrant and beautiful. It's great that there's a social message too. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I have noticed street art has really taken off in the last few years. It gives me one more reason to travel - lol.

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  20. Wow, these are amazing. So bright and so colourful. We love looking for street art on our travels.

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  21. That octopus is epic. I'm always amazed at the talent. Thanks for sharing #theweeklypostcard

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  22. I, too, love street art, Lyn. I especially love the photos you have shared of the street art at the National Aquarium of New Zealand. Outstanding!

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    1. The National Aquarium photo has been a real favourite amongst my readers.

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  23. Climate change - Ocean Acidification is my favorite one because of how the ocean is superimposed upon the person's face. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and the ocean, to me. These are all fantastic, though. Will new ones be added for the next round or will these be painted over (I hope not). I really enjoy street art, too. The other day, I passed a massive blank side of a building and wondered why no one had done anything with it.

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    1. I am pretty sure they will just add new ones. You are the second person who has asked that so maybe I should check and see.

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  24. Wonderful artwork! I pinned several of them to my Pinterest board on street art!

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    1. I will have a look at your board. I have a street art board too but I confess it gets neglected too much of it time.

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  25. I'd heard somewhere about the street art in Napier and wow that's some vibrant street art! Beautiful stuff, thanks for sharing #TheWeeklyPostcard

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