A series of creative hoarding designs are available free of charge to enhance hoardings in Christchurch.

Apply for a creative hoarding

Each design consists of of individual artwork panels. These panels can be assembled in any combination, but must be from the same design suite.

These designs are pre-approved for a waiver of temporary use of legal road (TUOLR) fees, however they will also need to incorporate the design principles for pre-designed hoardings and meet the fee waiver conditions.

Touch base with us before you begin as we'll provide advice and feedback. We'll also need to approve how the creative hoarding artwork will integrate into the overall hoarding. Contact creativehoardings@ccc.govt.nz.

Approved designs

Kaupeka Tae
Kaupeka tae 1

Aromarea
Aromarea 2

Christchurch Life
hoarding template 10

Urban Camouflage
urban camo 2

Kaupeka Tae

Kaupeka has many meanings like to branch out, section or part and it is also a term that means season or the lunar month that Māori followed. Tae can mean to reach out, extend to arrive or colour. Both depend on the context. Giving this hoarding design a wide scope for interpretation.

Each section of pattern can relate to sections within your building or business. The Māori patterns are derived from the traditional art practices of whakairo (carving), kōwhaiwhai (painted scroll ornamentation – commonly used on meeting house rafters) and raranga (weaving).

Some of the kōwhaiwhai used are mangopare (the hammerhead shark) known for its tenacity and resilience, Koru representing a new beginning and growth, and pūhoro representing speed and whakapapa (genealogy).

Whakairo patterns that have been stylized come from Maui – so named because it depicts a fish hook like the one Maui used to fish up the North Island. Maui was resourceful, tenacious and adventurous, Rauponga taken from the fern leaf, and Rauru a spiral pattern for potential.

Weaving patterns include the Poutama symbolic of attainment, learning and growth, Niho taniwha which represents chieftainship, strength and history, Aramoana the wave pattern symbolizing communication and lastly Pātiki the flounder pattern a symbol of hospitality and caring for people.

These hoarding designs are an acknowledgment to the creativity of mana whenua and their connection to the environment. The colours of the images reflect the ebbs and flows of the seasons of the city, as well as the many textures that can be found around the city as it evolves with the post-earthquake rebuild.

Design partner: Ariki Creative(external link) 

Download the Kaupeka Tae design files

Aromarea

This panel is a representation of Te Taiao (the natural world) the land, sea and sky. For Maori this can be interpreted through Papatuanuku (the Earth Mother), Tangaroa (God of the sea) and Ranginui (the Sky father).

The triangle shapes also reference the traditional tāniko patterns of aronui and niho taniwha. Aronui meaning the pursuit of knowledge in the natural world and niho taniwha which can mean chieftainship, strength and history. Another interpretation of this whole pattern is a reference to the Southern Alps known to local Māori as Ka tiritiri o moana (the white caps of the waves).

Some of the triangles have kōwhaiwhai (painted scroll ornamentation – commonly used on meeting house rafters) in them these area traditional Māori interpretation of the natural world and of plants, birds, fish and water.

Part of the smaller niho taniwha design morphs into a pātiki (flounder) a specialty of the area and an inference to manaakitanga (hospitality) and caring for the people.

These hoarding designs are an acknowledgment to the creativity of mana whenua and their connection to the environment. The colours of the images reflect the ebbs and flows of the seasons of the city, as well as the many textures that can be found around the city as it evolves with the post-earthquake rebuild.

Design partner: Ariki Creative(external link)

Download the Aromarea design files

Christchurch Life and Urban Camouflage

There is enough discovery and surprise for everyone to see something a little different each time.

Look close! Christchurch Life and Urban Camouflage have surprises and hidden meanings all about Christchurch that you’re sure to discover the more you look.

Urban Camouflage has three colour options to choose from.

A
Urban Camouflage colour option 1

B
Urban Camouflage colour option 2

C
Urban Camouflage colour option 3

Design partner: McCarthy(external link)

Download the Christchurch Life design files

Download the Urban Camouflage design files

Additional design options

The good folks at All Right?(external link) have created colourful artwork promoting Five Ways to Wellbeing - five simple, evidence-based actions which have been shown to improve wellbeing in everyday life - which can be used for creative construction site hoardings. 

Get in touch with them at hello@allright.org.nz for more information.

Design principles

Your overall hoarding design must incorporate one of the pre-designed options above as well as the following design principles.

Visually define the site 

A hoarding should clearly define where a project begins and ends. Use visual devices such as patterns, contrasting skirting or trim. Signal the scale of the project and ensure a midblock site stands out.

Projects creating laneways, driveways or a main entranceway can hint at future flows of people and traffic between the project and street.

Showcase your team

Christchurch is being rebuilt by teams working hard together. Designating an area for collating corporate logos shows a team approach. It is critical to avoid negative impacts from clutter or excessively large signage. 

Successfully integrate your branding by neatly clustering images and logos of similar scale at hoardings ends or other points of activity (i.e. gates requiring safety info, locations for public interaction). This is more attractive and memorable than excessively large or repeated logos.

Provide public viewing 

If appropriate
People are naturally curious. If appropriate, let the public observe your construction progress with viewing windows. Choose safe locations where viewers are protected from traffic and from potential solid debris in accordance with Building Code clause F5.

Include wayfinding

If appropriate
Recognise that the widespread loss of landmarks and links makes it challenging for people to get their bearings. Wayfinding consists of tools which help people navigate.  

Show street names close to intersection corners. Use font size visible from across the intersection. Maps can be creative, playful, or integrated into the artwork.

Artwork application rules

Council reviews installed creative construction hoardings regularly to ensure they continue to meet appearance, maintenance and installation requirements. 

Planning ahead

Planning your artwork:

  • If a custom artwork is to be used it must have strong creative content and it is recommended the artist or designer is identified and acknowledged.
  • Your plan for how the artwork is integrated into the overall hoarding line will need to be assessed by Council staff. We may ask for amendments to better fit the design principles and to ensure a majority of the hoarding line is covered by artwork.
  • The Temporary Use of Legal Road (TUOLR) waiver is applied only to hoardings, doors, gates, containers and gantries that are covered by artwork where they form part of the hoarding line.
  • The full surface area of construction hoardings, gates more than 8 metres wide and the interior of a pedestrian gantry must be covered by artwork. Trimming boards may be painted flat black or other desired complementary colour.
  • Artwork is optional on doors and gates that are less than 8 metres wide and on containers that form part of the hoarding line. TUOLR fees will be charged for these gates and containers that are not covered by artwork.
  • Corporate branding is not appropriate for covering access doors or gates.
  • Include hazards and health and safety signage near entrances. Signage should not cover creative hoarding artwork.

Create hoarding guidelines illustration

View full image [PDF, 3.3 MB]

Artwork licence

If you are using a pre-design hoarding, the artwork is the intellectual property of Christchurch City Council. It is included in the Creative Hoardings toolkit under a licence agreement with Ariki Creative and McCarthy creative agencies.

The artwork may only be used for the purpose it is provided for – to be printed and attached to an approved construction hoarding. Any other unauthorised use of the artwork is an infringement of copyright.

If you would like to use the artwork for another purpose, please contact Christchurch City Council: creativehoardings@ccc.govt.nz

Printing and installation

The installation of artwork design to construction hoardings must consider long term durability, appearance and maintenance requirements.

Hoarding artwork can be printed on recycled or recyclable materials. 

Recommended:

  • PVC banner fabric
  • ACM board
  • vinyl wrap or similar
  • UV-stabilised ink.

Not recommended:

  • Corflute, due to its durability and longevity being low.

Graffiti

All reasonable efforts should be taken to remove graffiti from hoarding artwork within 48 hours. Should it be impossible to remove graffiti through low-cost, manual efforts, you may be required to reprint and replace the affected artwork. If the graffiti is offensive, Council may paint over it within 4 hours.

Christchurch examples

Council reviews installed creative construction hoardings regularly to ensure they continue to meet appearance, maintenance and installation requirements. 

Aldersgate Centre development on Durham Street

Spark Building on Hereford Street

Leighs Construction development on High Street

Sudima Hotel Development on Victoria & Salisbury Streets