Recent Stories
We are pleased to bring you the latest from around the Taupō & Tūrangi communities. Reporting local, supporting local.
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Graffiato 2026
About a dozen artists filled a laneway in Taupō over Labour weekend, turning the forgotten spot into a collection of surprises
Art at the south end
A Tūrangi arts collective is giving artists dotted around the southern end of Lake Taupō a valuable outlet for their work.
Artwork symbolises solar connections
Reupene Wall, a Māori carver with deep roots in the Pūrāpoto region, has completed his first commissioned artwork — an intricately carved tōtara piece created for the new Te Rāhui solar farm east of Taupō.
‘Don’t lick the walls’
After more than 40 years working with clay, artist Fiona Tunnicliffe says she is still resisting instructions, breaking the occasional rule, and finding humour where she can.
Carol calls time on Kura
Carol Hunter has been manning the low desk at the end of the long and narrow Kura Gallery since 1998 but is now calling time on nearly three decades in the business.
‘Recycle-o-saurus’ comes to town
A dinosaur-themed exhibition featuring art created from recycled materials is on at Taupō Museum and Art gallery.
Events calendar filling up
There is plenty to see and do around the Taupō District over the next few weeks. Here’s the details.
The Bard but not as we know it
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged and revised)
Street art collection grows
One of the feature pieces of this year’s Graffiato Festival is a Taupō slant on Tourism New Zealand’s 100% Pure New Zealand logo.
Winter Festival funds distributed
The 10th annual Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupō Winter Festival has been hailed a huge success again this year, not only delivering a vibrant programme enjoyed by thousands, but also generating funds that are now going back into the community.
Creative Taupō launches rebrand
One of Taupō District Council’s major strategic partnership initiatives which was awarded funding earlier this year is set to go public with its aim of supporting and growing the arts sector in the district.
Taupō artworks go public
Four Taupō artworks have been added to the National Register of 20th Century Public Art.
Everyone is invited
Taupō Museum latest exhibition Inclusive opens on Saturday, September 6.
Colossal squid heads for Lake Taupō
The popular Te Papa exhibition Colossal Squid Ngu Tipua is coming to Taupō Museum next week.
Empowering the dragons
It may sound like a fantastical amalgam of serpent stories but ‘Leonardo’s Dragon: Five Far-flung Dragon Tales’ – award-winning Taupō author Donovan Bixley’s latest book – has emerged from a historical nugget.
Taonga weaved from ancestral wisdom
Taupō Museum is set to unveil Punarua, possibly the largest piupiu ever created, in its Aotearoa debut following a standout international premiere at the prestigious 2024 Biennale of Sydney.
Boom Boom blows up in a media frenzy
Supposedly any publicity is good publicity.
The end of the world
Every day, I can’t help marvelling at this place.
Chill out at Winter Festival
The 2025 Malcom Flowers Insurances Taupō Winter Festival (27 June – July 13) is now open for bookings and event director Nicola de Lautour says some ticketed shows are almost already half subscribed while uptake on others is beginning to build.
Artist shares Boom Boom’s background
It’s been a seven-year journey to get Riverside Park’s sculpture trail underway, but it started with a Boom Boom this week.
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