The Raglan Water Tower Murals

In the late 1980s, the Chairperson of the Raglan Community Arts Council, Marizio Sarzini, an italian architect, was living in Raglan and initiated a project to paint a mural on the local water tower. A huge project covering 1/3 of the 240 square metre tower. Marizio designed and painted the mural, which has stood as an icon of Raglan with it's stylised motifs of Mt Karioi lying gracefully beneath a vibrant sunset, the cliffs to her left with Bridal Veil Falls and the ominous wave curling on the right. By 1999, the weathering of the wall had left the mural faded and in need of repair.

Click the thumbnail to view the larger picture. This photo was featured in the Hamilton Press in 1999.

A series of photos of work in progress was taken in November 1999.     Click here to see pics taken in November 1999

Through the initiative of local artist Christian Higgins who's proposal to repaint the tower was finally accepted after much debate and thankfully a decision was made to fund the project. The Waikato District Council approached Nick Puklowski of the Raglan Community Arts Council to supervise the project. Pita Mataira was also enlisted, and then the three painters set to work!

Click the thumbnail to view the larger picture. This photo appeared in the NZ Herald in 1999.