Frances Hodgkins murals

In 2018, Council closed the Waikanae Library for health reasons.  While the fate of the building was waiting to be decided, the Public Art Panel commissioned artists Kate Hartmann and Ruth Robertson Taylor to paint a temporary mural to add vibrancy to Mahara Place. Completed in June 2020, the mural honoured iconic artist Frances Hodgkins, one of Aotearoa New Zealand's best-known artists, who had links to Waikanae.

Showcasing an important part of our artistic heritage, the colourful mural was based on Frances Hodgkins' textile designs.

The mural has enjoyed immense popularity during the last five years, but has now come to the end of its life, as construction work progresses on the building to transform it into Te Ara Whetū. We retain the image here to preserve the record and so people can still enjoy the artwork.