Public toilets in New Zealand, a photo from Canterbury, South Island

Photographer's Note

New Zealand has fantastic public toilets. There are many of them, everywhere, they are spotlessly clean and free. But also they often beautiful.
The most photographed toilet in New Zealand" is in the town of Kawakawa, on the way to Paihia.
Reclusive Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed this decorative toilet block a year before he died in 2000, aged 71. He had lived in Kawakawa, in the Bay of Islands, for the last 25 years of his life. Made entirely from recycled materials (the bricks come from a former Bank of New Zealand), the roof features vegetation replanted after construction. Warning: Members of the opposite sex are allowed to come into inspecting each interior after shouting loudly � and waiting for an all-clear.

Unfortunately, I saw this famous toilet only from the bus. I made a picture but it is too unsharp to show here. The bus didn't stop so I could not use it :).

This is the public toilet in Kaikoura. on the East Coast of NZ.
In Workshop other views.

See beta version, main and then Workshops

pajaran, ikeharel, holmertz, macjake, ChrisJ, jhm, Royaldevon, PaulVDV, alvaraalto, adramad, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jemaflor (147224) 2018-05-02 23:17

Hi Malgo,
Beautiful and funny, nice mural with these vivid colors, well taken, good sharpness, original public toilets well decorated, tfs.

dkmurphys (79209) 2018-05-02 23:45

Hello,
Well, that's a very good choice to make a wall look nice, especially if there are toilets inside. Fine colors, well observed.

Daniel

mesutilgim (0) 2018-05-03 0:12

Hello Malgo,
The phantasy of an artist has no limits ! İf necessary.
Even a simple public toilette can be turned into such a beautiful artwork. Very good observed and captured. A perfect TE entry with many interesting and usefull notes.,
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

abmdsudi (95869) 2018-05-03 0:28

Hi Malgorzata
Wonderful find and some great little stories going on here. Phew! That's how I feel when I've just made it in time, and a very good example of why we should all keep a camera handy. I reckon your remarks are spot on. Great fun shot, Congrats
Best regards

holmertz (102774) 2018-05-03 1:39

Hello Malgo,
It was a slight disappointment to reach the end of the note to realize that the toilet you describe so vividly is not the one we see here.;-) Never mind, this one also looks nice, with a better than average graffiti. And of course the first sentence of the note is good information to anyone who plans a journey to New Zealand (not me).
Kind regards,
Gert

macjake (98456) 2018-05-03 2:30

Hi Malgo
i guess we learn something new each and every day! Who'd have known toilets in NZ were so attractive :)

no landscapes or volcanoes here :)
fun and interesting story about learning other cultures!
cheers
Craig

Sergiom (117241) 2018-05-03 6:25

Ciao Malgo,

Il faut que les toilettes soient vraiment exceptionnelles pour qu'on soit tent� de les prendre en photo. Celle-ci l'est et elle est belle et ce n'est pas l'espace qui manque.

Amicalement

Serge

ChrisJ (171884) 2018-05-03 7:48

Hi Malgo,

It's a good idea to use the negative space on the toilet walls for bright colorful art works depicting the southern Alps & stereotypical scenes from around NZ. Good sharpness and the workshop looks like a scene from Switzerland. Tfs!

rychem (72187) 2018-05-03 8:22

Super, przynajmniej wesolo, wybrano bardzo relaksujace obrazki, ciekawe czemu :)
doskonale poznawcze zdjecie, w myślach pornuje z naszymi toaletami, eh, szkoda gadac
pozdrawiam
Ryszard

jhm (211736) 2018-05-03 10:16

Hello Malgo,

New Zealand has fantastic public toilets, but also the graffiti is wonderful made.
Nice depth and perspective too.
Excellent composition and lovely presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

Tue (92470) 2018-05-03 23:27

Hello Malgo,
In most places public toilets aren't worth photographing, but this is certainly a beautiful exception. The art on the walls is very appealing and colourful and you also captured it in a very fine sunlight and from a good angle. Great work.
Lars

Royaldevon (85932) 2018-05-04 1:16

Hello Malgo,

What superb buildings!
I think photographs of these public toilets should be presented to town developers!
Not only are they easily recognisable but they add colour and display features of the environment!
I like this idea!
You have given us some great shots to appreciate the variety.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

Cricri (176) 2018-05-04 10:36

Hi Malgorzata
C'est un plaisir d'aller aux toilettes , pour autant que l'int駻ieur soit aussi beau et propre , c'est original et bien r饌liser
Belle soir馥
cricri

PaulVDV (62978) 2018-05-04 22:19

Hello Malgo,
Not every public toilet lends itself so well to photography.
Here it seems like a whole story from a comic strip was depicted on the wall.
Lucky for you your bus made a tour around this building so you could take pictures from different sides.
Best regards, Paul

ikeharel (113427) 2018-05-04 23:50

Whatever this edifice is used for, Malgo, the graffiti works beautifully with the mostly landscape depicted in green and blue.
Good idea to leave the figure of the lady on the far right side and not cropped out.
Have a nice weekend,
Ike

alvaraalto (42804) 2018-05-05 11:31

Hello Malgo
I wish that all public toilet buildings in the world look so attractive. I know various artworks from Hundertwasser. Attractive, imaginative works. Maybe an idea for a photo at TE of his sculpture in Rotterdam in the future.
Have a good Sunday, groet Rob

adramad (73006) 2018-05-05 11:32

Hi, Malgo.
A striking photo, see this building decorated with so happy murals, and its use is that of Toilets, when the most frequent to see around the world, buildings are sordid, dedicated to this need, a great capture.
A fantastic photo, with beautiful natural colors, very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Well done. I love.
Enjoy the weekend.
Very best regards.
Luis.

carlo62 (81265) 2018-05-06 14:49

Ciao Malgo
che bellezza, magari ci fossero anche qui dei bagni come questi.
Prima di tutto ci vorrebbero i bagni, poi bisognerebbe che fossero fotogenici come questi e molto colorati.
Curiosa e interessante condivisione.
Saluti
Carlo

gut31 (144) 2018-05-10 14:18

Hi Malgorzata

I've seen lot of strange toilets around the world but your's are the beautiful one.

Made with recycled things.... the New Zealand people are very clever

TFS

mcmtanyel (68623) 2018-05-14 21:18

Hello Malgo,
My, they're very colorful and art-ful, aren't they? I can just imagine the new fad: Toilet tourism to New Zealand!
Regards,
MT