News Release

Wednesday 9 September 2015

New public toilets featuring local artworks to open on Saturday

New public toilets opening this weekend in two of the district’s lakes areas feature vibrant artwork by local school children and by an up-and-coming Rotorua artist.

The official openings of the new toilet facilities, at the Waipuna Delta in Mourea and Trout Pool in Okere Falls, will take place on Saturday (12 September). The first of two blessing ceremonies will be at the new Waipuna Delta toilets at 9.30am.

Rotorua Lakes Council Community Engagement & Events advisor, Stephanie Kelly, said the Mourea location was identified, through the council’s Public Toilet Policy, as a busy site with a popular boat ramp.

“Under the guidance of council Community Arts Advisor Marc Spijkerbosch, artwork on the new toilet was completed by students from Whangamarino School, based on their own drawings. The children painted a number of native birds, while Marc executed a taniwha breaking through the concrete directly outside the toilet.”

She said it was Mr Spijkerbosch’s second collaboration with Whangamarino School, having previously worked with the students on a mural for Rotorua Airport.

The Okere Falls location was also identified through the council’s Public Toilet Policy as a designated freedom camping area, a place where rafters exit the river, and as a popular scenic reserve.

“Artwork was undertaken by Heidi Stook, a local artist whose design for the toilet received an extremely favourable response from the community,” said Mrs Kelly. “The work features various water activities specific to the area, including fishing and rafting, and native flora and fauna presented in a fun and quirky artistic style.”

Ms Stook’s artwork on Rotorua mud pools also features on a Chorus telecommunications box at the corner of Malfroy and Old Taupo roads.

[ENDS]

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