The Tauranga Runway Mural: A Landmark of Colour and Community

The Tauranga Runway Mural is a first-of-its-kind public artwork, transforming the main road of The Historic Village into a vibrant, 100-meter canvas. Designed to be appreciated from the ground and the air, this unified mural is a bold new cultural landmark for the city.

More than just paint on pavement, the Tauranga Runway is a positive statement celebrating creativity, belonging, and the unique stories of our people.

A Mural for Everyone

The project engaged a rangatahi neurodivergent ambassador, Kaito Valentino Bell, to help ensure the space is welcoming for all. Reflecting on the finished work, he shared:

"When I first saw the finished mural I was blown away by how cool it was. The bright colours make it feel welcoming and a place that I would like to visit again and again... I think it is a space where people can relax and feel at ease, and have their spirits lifted."

Art with a Purpose

The mural features six distinct sections created by local and international artists, each drawing inspiration from four powerful themes: Whenua (Land), Whakapapa (Connection), Kotahitanga & Belonging, and Wellbeing (Hauora). By weaving these values into its core, the runway aims to spark dialogue and foster a sense of cultural pride.

With Special Thanks

This project was made possible through the collaboration and support of our community partners. A deep thank you to:

Mike Jones for his incredible site work and painting.
Tauranga City Council for the contribution from the Public Art Fund.
Link Up Paints, our product sponsors.

The Tauranga Runway was led by The Incubator Creative Hub and is designed to be more than a static image; it is an interactive community space for events, festivals, and celebrations for years to come.

The Artists

Tauranga Runway Meet The Artist Team BE MODERN.png

Paul Darragh (BEMODERN)

Cross Together is a 16-metre-long street mural created by Paul Darragh (BEMODERN) and Simon Novak, designed as a vibrant symbol of unity and pride. Radiating from the stripes of the rainbow flag, the composition expands outward into intersecting geometric forms that represent action, connection, and the meeting of diverse identities. Celebrating kotahitanga (togetherness) and belonging, the work invites all people to move through the space as part of a shared community—bright, inclusive, and full of life.

Socials: Instagram only: @bemodern1

Colin Bell – Artist Statement
I think that at this point in history it is especially important to be welcoming to those from other countries who choose to live their lives here, which is why I chose to use Hibiscus and Sakura flowers to reflect this. You may also see the "Maneki Neko" (as it is known in Japan), or Lucky Cat, which hopefully brings good fortune - something else a lot of us could do with right now!

Areena Smith Artist- Statement

“Rere iho taku manu Toroa ki runga ō Mauao maunga... kairangi ana taku titiro I ngā maunga Kaimai.

Hōea taku waka ki runga o te awa ō Waikato... Tū mai rā ko Pirongia Maunga, Ko Waipā awa e rere ana ki Kawhia Moana.”

Standing atop the Kaimai ranges, provides an opportunity to acknowledge the vast landscape of lineage, connections and history. My paternal grandfather & each of his brothers, married women from different areas of Waikato. An acknowledgement, a shared journey and an appreciation for the korowai aroha the Kaimai ranges provides that both separates and connects the two regions from which I descend.

Tauranga Runway Meet The Artist Team.png

Paula Lucero Sanchez

Here Pau, Argentinian traveller mural artist, now in New Zealand, playing with a few colours to create more beautiful cities around the world. Whenua and whakapapa connected to create my design, inspired in the nature, with the power of the sea, the land and the sun... organic colours to flow in the middle of the concrete

Hope McConnell Artist Statement

This mural expresses how the different elements of our Hauora flow into each other. Spiritual, mental, emotional and physical all have to work together for us to thrive and flourish.
Not only that, but when we as individuals are well, our wellbeing flows into those around us and as communities we can all flourish together.
I loved creating this piece and feel honoured to help bring this positive message to the Tauranga runway!

Michael Jones: Artist Statement

I started painting when I was 4 years old, or maybe I was 3?

I sold my first and only painting when I was 15. My English Teacher bought it for his wife, it was of someone falling off a bridge!

I have been drawing and painting portraits and caricatures ever since and I am also a colour specialist. This is my first foray into Street Art!

My mural is ‘Opposites in Harmony’, Light and Dark, Energy and Serenity, Solar Vitality and Lunar Calm. In a personal humorous way, it represents my culturally diverse heritage. Indian, English, Danish, Welsh and Māori.

Dali Susanto Artist Statement:
This piece of work celebrates the whenua, the coastal places where the ocean meets the land. The fish scales represent the abundance of nature. The whale tails represent protection - both how the whenua nurtures us and how we must care for the natural environment. The waves represent both the literal ocean and the resilience of the community to go with the ebb and flow of life's changes. The koru speak to the unity in community - the Kotahitanga that brings us all together. As with most of my large-scale projects I involved members of the community in the creation, allowing others to become part of the art, teaching and learning from each other. People coming together is central both to the process and the product.

Tauranga Runway Neurodivergent Ambassador.png

Kaito Valentino Bell Neurodivergent ambassador Statement:

When I first saw the finished mural I was blown away by how cool it was. The bright colours make it feel welcoming and a place that I would like to visit again and again. It's really cool how the different images, shapes and colours have been designed to offer something for all kinds of different people. I think it is a space where people can relax and feel at ease, and have their spirits lifted. Places like this are important for people's wellbeing and it would be really good to have more around.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Mānawatia Takatāpui/Defending Plurality : Cross Together

"Cross Together" is a vibrant collaborative street painting by artists Paul Darragh and Shannon Novak. Located in the pedestrian-only area of The Historic Village, this dynamic composition is inspired by rainbow pedestrian crossings, reimagined on a larger, more artistic scale.

The artwork is a powerful symbol of unity and collaboration. Each artist designed two sides of the composition, weaving their work together in the middle to create a single, integrated piece.

As artist Paul Darragh explains, "the artwork speaks about collaboration and unity in the fight for freedom. In the same way that we collaborated so positively on this artwork, we see a need for a united front within LGBTQI+ community to bring about positive change."

Positioned prominently in front of The Incubator Creative Hub, the mural boldly asserts the vibrancy of the LGBTQI+ community. It marks the Historic Village as a destination where diverse creatives can meet, celebrate, and showcase culture.

This project is a collaboration between The Incubator Creative Hub, Shannon Novak, and Paul Darragh, with support from the Creative Communities Scheme.

Shannon Novak

Photo: John Borren.

Shannon's Website