Taupō is gearing up to welcome a creative contingent of renowned and rising international and New Zealand artists coming to town for the 15th Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival (25 - 27 October).
The annual Labour Weekend invasion will see the holiday resort once again popping with vibrant colours and creative activity as 15 artists and a cohort of assistants take over the walls, laneways and backstreets of the town.
As the Graffiato artists get to work on their giant creative contributions, New Zealand’s premier street art festival literally transforms Taupō into a living canvas. With a backdrop of the lake and mountains, artists take to the town’s streets, bringing bold, new murals to life and adding to the existing 85-plus public displays of art.
“Graffiato 2025 is the year of the collaboration, with five huge collaborative walls involving artists who’ve never worked together before. This has never been attempted at a NZ Festival before so it’s really exciting to see styles merge and people working together to produce one huge cohesive mural.” Duffell said.
While the idea behind the festival was originally to reduce tagging, it had evolved into something more, he said. “It’s amazing to see the local community, and Taupō visitors take advantage of this incredible opportunity to watch and engage with the creation of transformative works of art.”
Duffell, a full-time artist, has painted at many previous Graffiato Festivals but it’s the first time that he’s taken on the role of festival artistic director. His works appear as large-scale commissions in private and public spaces, and exhibited in galleries across New Zealand.
The 2025 edition will also feature “a surprise and delight” unveiling at midday on Thursday (23 October) so locals and visitors should keep an eye out on what’s happening around town.
With origins in the Ukraine, Russia, Japan and North America, along with some hyper-local Taupō artists, the 2025 contingent all have strong connections with Aotearoa and the New Zealand street art scene.
Well-known New Zealand artists Trust Me, Dcypher and Pauly B are among the headline artists attending the festival. Eleven of the 15 artists in this year’s lineup have attended Graffiato in the past, and each brings a unique style of muralism. Local emerging artist, Indy King, has been a volunteer at several past festivals and painted her first mural in 2023. She is teaming up with experienced Taupō artist, Gemini.
The full list is: Margarita Vovna, TrustMe, KORYU, Ed Bats, SwiftMantis, Sarah Kolver, Stephen Templer, Kell Sunshine, Pauly B, Mica Still, Rebecca ter Borg, Nick Lowry, Indy King, Dcypher, Gemini.
Local business owners’ association Town Centre Taupō (TCT) manages and organises the Graffiato Festival, and GM Julie McLeod says “it’s an incredible privilege to have Sean Duffell on board as the artistic director. Sean has amazing positive energy and has quickly become a huge asset for the festival. He’s turned it into one of the largest we’ve ever done!”
“We’re spreading the love by branching into areas beyond the CBD, into Acacia Bay shops, Taupō Skate Park and a pedestrian underpass in Nukuhau. By partnering with other organisations, including the Acacia Bay Community Association and Taupō District Council, we are able to bring Graffiato to more parts of the district.”
Graffiato could be considered unique among street art festivals, she said, because “the artists are able to paint whatever their heart desires. And, since they are working within a compact CBD, Taupō is acquiring what many consider to be the most diverse and dense collection of street art in the country.”
“The only limitations for the art are that it reflects positivity and the beautiful sides of life, resulting in a town centre that holds dear to those values,” McLeod said.
From Saturday morning, visitors will have the opportunity to watch artists at work as they create their large-scale artworks within the Taupō town centre over the long weekend. Walls and artists are matched so that each gets the right platform for their storytelling.
“There’s an awesome atmosphere around the town centre during Graffiato festival weekend – it’s a great opportunity for visitors and locals to witness the murals come to life and engage with the artists as they work,” McLeod said.
2025 Graffiato Festival artists:
- Margarita Vovna
- TrustMe - Ross Liew
- KORYU
- Ed Bats
- SwiftMantis
- Sarah Kolver
- Stephen Templer
- Kell Sunshine
- Pauly B
- Mica Still
- Rebecca ter Borg
- Nick Lowry
- Indy King
- Dcypher
- Gemini - Gem Clough
About Graffiato:
Graffiato was the first street art festival of its kind in New Zealand and is the longest running. The ever-expanding portfolio of 85 murals showcases the best street art in New Zealand, bringing transformation, wonder and vibrancy to the urban lane ways and streets of Taupō.
The event runs every Labour Weekend in late October, typically beginning with artist prep work on the Friday, and then full-time painting on Saturday, Sunday and finishing on Monday.
Year-round, Taupō locals and visitors are invited to follow the Graffiato map around the CBD to admire and experience the works produced in past festivals
Image credit: Graffiato
