New Maungatapere toilets painted by local artist

Published on 02 July 2025

After campaigning for several years, Maungatapere’s community can celebrate having a public toilet block to serve locals and the many who drive through and visit the increasingly busy township.

Whangārei artist Earnest Bradley has painted a mural of huge kererū / kūkū / kūkupa (the name depends on where you come from) on the new toilet block to honour the birds that visit the stand of trees in the area.

The Maungatapere community had campaigned for a set of public toilets for several years, holding a petition and sending letters of support for the proposal to Council.

At the crossroads of two state highways, Maungatapere is a key transport connection between Whangārei to the east and Dargaville to the west, and to northern and southern destinations. The area’s population is also growing rapidly.

Maungatapere Village Inc. representatives spoke twice at Council’s public forum and, on the second occasion, presented 650 signatures in support of including public toilets in the Long Term Plan 2024-34. 

The initial plan was for the toilets to be in the main part of the village but, as we did not own land there, a site was selected behind the carpark shared by Maungatapere Community Centre and the Maungatapere Bowling Club, about 700m west of the Maungatapere War Memorial Church on SH14.

Council Technical Officer Grant Alsop said the toilets will be open 24/7, and CCTV and sensor lights have been installed to boost security. Freedom camping is not permitted in the carpark, which will be monitored.

He gave a big thank you to Maungatapere Village Inc. and the people who made this project happen and helped with its delivery.