Buzzy Bee mural

 

Another utility box seen on the outskirts of central Greymouth. Most New Zealanders and Australians will recognize this one. The iconic "buzzy bee" is a wooden toy with wheels that babies and toddlers grow up with and makes a clicking noise when it's pulled along. Painted by Mark Haldane aka Raja the toy was originally created by Maurice Schlesinger around 1939/1940.

This is the same toy that Prince William was filmed playing with during the royal tour to New Zealand in 1983.

More about the lightning strike we had the other night. Apparently our neighbour across the road had one of the power poles outside her house blow up due to being struck so it ended up damaging some of the internal wire. Being not far away from her we were lucky not to end up in the same boat.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Waves

There is a fence along the side of a house in Hokitika that has been painted with waves and a Maori waka (canoe), it brightens up the property. The artist is Mark Haldane aka RAJA, a local Greymouth artist.

Linking up with Mural Monday and Blue Monday.

Railway Hotel Murals

On the side of the front wall of the Railway Hotel building is this mural in bits and pieces.

I can't work out what some of the creatures are but the others are a pirate ship, a duck and a crab on this wall.

And another pirate ship with fish on this wall. I don't think there's any particular message in it except that it's a bit of fun painted by local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane.

Linking up with Mural Monday and Blue Monday. 

Greymouth SPCA

Another local mural painted by Mark Haldane aka RAJA - this one outside the local SPCA which shows a mixture of animals next to a native Cabbage Tree. This is where we adopted our last 2 cats from - Floki and Tiger.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Make it click

 Many years ago there was a slogan via McDonald's tv commercals about seatbelt safety in cars called "Make it click". 

These days it's not on so much anymore but still just as relevant. The above mural was painted by local artist Mark Haldana aka RAJA. Sorry it's a bit blurred as it was taken when I was driving past.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Active explorers

In Greymouth one of the local daycare centres has this mural on the front and side of their building.

Pretty simple and effective by showing what it's used for painted by local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Monteiths Brewery Mural

 Another long mural again. - this one from local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane. This one is painted on the side of the Monteiths Brewery building in Greymouth. It shows not just the history of the town but also the building and business itself. 

They aren't just a restaurant but also offer tastings and a shop where customers can buy their specialty brews.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Westpower all the way

 

On the side of one of Greymouth's industrial buildings is this long landscape style mural which shows all of the mining, commercial, industrial, agricultural and domestic power over the decades since the city was first founded. Painted by local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Gallery

I've been wanting to get a photo of this mural for a while now. It's peeking out on the side of a building in one of the main street's of Greymouth next to the railway tracks. Painted by local artist Mark Haldane aja Raja it points the way with an arrow to one of the art galleries.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Shipping boats

My cousin has recently moved to Greymouth and after I had visited her I spotted this mural on another utility box. Painted by local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane this one shows how popular the fishing industry here is.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Kites

This mural on a utility box is a few steps up from my house. It shows kites flying over the snow topped mountains painted by Fi Ginivan.

So we've had a busy week. Apart from moving I've been going through old boxes I haven't opened in a few months and discovered so much stuff that I haven't missed and probably don't need anymore. On Friday last week we ended up having to get a lawn-mowing contractor to come and mow the lawns as it seemed the previous tenants who lived here hadn't mowed the grass for what looks like a few months. They were nearly a foot long and even Bruno had trouble seeing anything when he was outside. Now it all looks so much better.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Pancake Rocks Mural

At Punakaiki aka Pancake Rocks on the outside of the Ice Cream shop is this mural showing some of the local wildlife such as the Little Blue Penguins. The artist is West Coast man Mark Haldane.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Kaitangata #2

 In a previous post I shared a similar mural named "Kaitangata" - this one is also another version of the same. I'm not 100% but I suspect it was painted by local artist Mark Haldane. It represents the old historical train which is now located at the Greymouth Shanty Town and tells a history of the town's coal mining.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Mining Mural

This mural is of the side of the road in the next street away from home. Painted by local artist Mark Haldane aka RAJA on the front and sides of a utility box, at first I thought it was some sort of futuristic scene but upon further examination I discovered it depicts a mining scene which is common with Greymouth's overall history of gold and coal mining.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

2 heads

I think this is a very fun mural located in Tainui Street here in Greymouth within the central city area. 2 faces painted on a wall in the square with tall trees behind them make it look like it's hair. Another one by RAJA aka local artist Mark Haldane. This photo was taken on a very overcast day when I met up with one of my many cousins for coffee as she was here checking the place out and planning to move here by the end of the year. 

Linking up with Mural Monday.

White Heron

This colourful mural is on the side of a building which houses a vegan cafe in Greymouth. Painted by artist Mark Haldane I think it shows a White Heron bird. 

Linking up with Mural Monday.