Gull gets community spirited in toilets upgrade

The view from Gull's Kingsland toilet - with an Eden Park theme.

Fuel chain Gull has refurbished 14 of its service station bathrooms with new design themes, each inspired by the local community.

But a West Auckland police station and cell design is not a cheap shot at the locals.

Dave Bodger, Gull New Zealand's general manager, said the Sel Peacock Gull theme was a police office and cell which had been inspired by the immediate neighbours: "If you go right next door, you'll find it's full of boys and girls dressed in blue. We're right next to the cop shop. We're not casting aspersions on West Auckland," he said.

Ulrick Olsen, Gull New Zealand commercial manager, said the business was raising the bar in its bathroom makeovers.

"We wanted to delight our customers when they walked into our restrooms, and challenge Kiwis' perceptions of service station bathrooms. A regular pitstop on every journey, the locally inspired designs are a great way to give travellers an insight into the local community,"

So the loos at Gull's Kingsland station in central Auckland look like an Eden Park rugby locker room, Albany like a scuba diving trip, Greville Road on the North Shore where many South Africans live has an African safari theme, Swanson in West Auckland has become the interior of the Outrageous Fortune house, Mt Maunganui has a young beach/surfing environment theme, Henderson Valley like the nearby Piha, Portage Road in Titirangi has bohemian decor as a nod to the artistic community, Landings at Whakatane a fresh water fishing decor, Te Ngae in Rotorua is like a lake house, Lake Road in Rotorua has an historical theme, Rosscommon in South Auckland got a Samoan theme, Sel Peacock in West Auckland its own police office/cell decor, Whangarei is decorated to look like a wharf, yacht and the Port Knights Islands and Thames a kiwi bach theme.

The renovations began in October last year and will be finished by early 2015. Another eight sites are in line for renovation and further sites yet to be confirmed.

Auckland design company Amplifier created the decor which Gull said was engaging and unexpected.