Checking out Napier's murals

Cinzah Merkins and Jason Botkin's mural addressing interrelationship between species and habitats. Napier Council picture.

LOCALS and visitors have a chance to find out more about Napier’s Sea Walls murals, thanks to free guided walks during Seaweek 2017, to be held from February 26 to March 5.

“Everyone knows something interesting about Antarctica or the Amazon River, but closer to home the natural world can be a mystery,” said National Aquarium of New Zealand educator Jake Brookie.

Mr Brookie has teamed up with Napier-based mural artist Cinzah Merkens to lead the walks to view the murals in Napier’s CBD and Ahuriri, focusing on how they have been made and what they depict.

Napier hosted New Zealand’s first Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans festival in March last year. The Sea Walls events, founded by Hawaii-based non-profit PangeaSeed Foundation, are held all over the world and use art to raise awareness of ocean environmental issues.

Mr Merkens is PangeaSeed’s New Zealand co-ordinator. “I’m excited to work with the National Aquarium and give a little insight into this amazing body of work,” he said.

“Our artists had an incredible time working with the community and volunteering their time, gifting these works of art to our city.”

Each artwork puts a spotlight on conservation issues as varied as littering, overfishing and climate change.

Mr Brookie will also lead a walk around the Ahuriri inner estuary, speaking about the animals and the habitat along the way.

“Our estuary is more than just mud. Not only is it home to worms with jaws and over 20 species of fish, it is visited by birds from all around the world,” he says.

Seaweek is held annually to raise awareness of the ocean’s biodiversity as well as the need to protect it. There are lots of local events this Seaweek, from beach clean-ups to library programmes.

“The Hawke’s Bay Seaweek team have come up with a huge variety of events for all types of people and interests. There really is something for everyone,” said regional Seaweek co-ordinator and National Aquarium education team leader Carol Larson.

This year’s theme is “Toiora te Moana, Toiora te Tangata — Healthy Seas, Healthy People”. The theme focuses on how the ocean is intertwined with our well-being.

The National Aquarium, supported by the Napier City Council, is acknowledged as an official supporter of Seaweek 2017, along with other organisations such as the Department of Conservation, NZ Marine Studies Centre at the University of Otago, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Environment Canterbury Regional Council, DSP Print Group Ltd and many local sponsors.

The New Zealand Coastal Society will again sponsor the prize for the winning Seaweek Ocean Champion for 2017.

Seaweek is organised by the New Zealand Association for Environment Education (NZAEE).

— Hawke’s Bay Today