Watch NZH Local Focus: Street art livens up Tauranga CBD

New Zealand street artists have been painting the town red.

That is, creating street artworks in multiple locations across Tauranga CBD.

It's all part of the city's Paradox Street Art Festival - officially open to the public this week.

Some of the artists involved say it's a huge contrast to how the art form was perceived only years ago.

"When we first started, it wasn't art. It was overseas, and we knew about that international scene so we did see it as an art form, but probably for the first five years it was just people not wanting anything to do with that."

Christchurch artist Jacob Yikes agrees with Janine Williams.

"There's always been a bit of an idea that if you're holding a can of spray-paint then you're some sort of criminal. I think it's something that's slowly changing."

But Mr Yikes says - in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes - there's a lot more acceptance of street art - with huge mural projects throughout the damaged CBD.

"We basically created works of a large scale outdoors. We invited a bunch of New Zealand artists to come in and do these works."

The Tauranga festival is the first of its kind for the region.

Festival director George Shaw and his wife, Shannon Webster, have also brought their collection of 22 original Banksy artworks to display in the Tauranga Art Gallery.

Mrs Williams, who works in collaboration with her husband, Charles, says there's something special about street art.

"There is an expression that you can have and sort of do what you want. You can put that colour with that colour and it's okay. There's a sense of freedom in the art form."

As for working with her husband...

"It's a full time job..." she jokes.

"No it's great. We've been married 16 years now. We were both doing graffiti and street art before that so combining that was just a natural progression of what marriage looks like. Now, the walls are a combination of both of our styles and skills. You certainly learn how to communicate well."

The festival runs until mid June - with several special events planned over the next few months.

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