Kawatiri

 

I'm sharing a little mural this week seen in Westport last time we were there. The meaning of "Kawatiri" refers to the Buller River. In Māori it means "swift and deep" and is linked with the Ngāti Rarua chief Kawatiri who watched over the trail between Ngai Tahu and Ngāti Rarua lands.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Womens institute

Last time I visited Westport I spotted this small mural on the side of one of the smaller buildings.

The Womens Institute branch here has been an important part of New Zealand for decades. So apparently it started in Canada, before making it's way to Great Britain. In 1919 a New Zealand woman Anna Jerome Spencer attended a craft exhibition in London. She was so impressed and investigated it with a thought of establishing it in New Zealand too.

Before the 2nd world war Anna and her friend Amy were based in Havelock North and the first meeting was held at Amy's home in January 1921 with Anna elected as president.

The first annual report of the institute provided a model for programmes until the 1990s. The movement slowly spread at first and by 1925 there were 6 institutes based in the Hawkes Bay region.

Over the years women in this organization have worked together to generate huge amounts of goods, services and funds for various causes both local and national.

These days Womens Institute groups have spread all over the country.

Linking up with Monday Murals.
 

Peter's Mural

So last Thursday my daughter and I drove to Westport with a friend. Our specific aim for the day was to visit some op shops - I didn't find anything in particular that I liked but I did see this mural on the side of one of the small buildings. Painted by artist Peter Hollis it depicts a scene of gold miners sluicing for gold at Soldier's Creek in Reefton around the 1860s/1870s. This mural is based on a drawing by Hugh Boscaven. Most of the West Coast of New Zealand is well known for it's gold mining history.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Surfing

I spotted this very purple mural inside the concrete made public toilets in Westport last time we were there. I don't know who the artist is but it shows a girl on a surfboard, weirdly enough I haven't seen anyone surfing at the beaches around here, maybe I'm just not there at the right time.

Linking up with Mural Monday. 

Change

I really like this mural that we saw in Westport while we were there. As pretty as it is I am unable to find out who the artist is. The word along the bottom says "change" and it's accompanied by some fern leaves, a fern frond, a little owl and a tuatara.

Linking up with Mural Monday.