Iconic Kawakawa toilets a little too public

Locals say tourists taking photos inside the toilets has become problematic. Picture / John Stone.

Kawakawa residents have been promised privacy in the privy after complaints of tourists photographing the inside of the town's iconic public toilets.

The toilets, created by artist and resident Friedrich Hundertwasser, have become a major tourist drawcard since they opened in 1999.

But locals say the lack of privacy with tourists snapping photos inside, is becoming a problem.

"It's not so bad in the ladies' cubicle," council operations manager Sue Hodge told the Northern Advocate, "but it can be difficult for men using the urinal."

Far North District Council is now planning to build a more traditional, less picture-worthy, public toilet next to the present ones for camera-shy locals to use.

- NZPA