"Aside from injecting some vibrancy into the terminal, these artworks will also tell the Rotorua story and bring real community ownership to the airport building.
"It is hoped this artwork will reflect the environment in which the airport operates and further highlight it as an identifiable local landmark."
Five community schools will be involved initially - Rotokawa, Whangamarino, Owhata, Lynmore and Whakarewarewa - all of which are situated along the airport's main flight path.
Rotorua District Council community arts officer Marc Spijkerbosch is overseeing the project, from design ideas, through to painting and installation.
"I have tried to keep the process as organic and student-driven as possible so as to achieve real community ownership of the murals," he said.
Mr Spijkerbosch approached the schools at the beginning of the year and asked for both teachers and students in years five and six to submit paintings, drawings and ideas describing their story.
He said some common themes emerged, such as Mt Tarawera and other elements of the landscape the children identified with.
"It is great seeing the energy the children exude for the project, which is all about empowerment and acknowledgement of community, and the designs they came up with were incredible."
Their final designs were transferred onto aluminium panels, ready for the children to paint.
"The designs and ideas belong entirely to the kids and all five murals are completely individual."
Whakarewarewa School was the first to begin painting in mid-October. He said the project had also been about inspiring children, giving them something tangible and real, while at the same time teaching them aspects like how to blend colours and paint drying times.
"I asked the students who wanted to be an artist when they grew up and half the school put their hands up. It's very cool," he said.
With around 30 primary schools in and around Rotorua, all will eventually have the opportunity to be involved.
The murals will be refreshed biannually and those taken down will be returned to their respective schools.
The first five murals will be officially unveiled at an airport open day which is scheduled for early next year.