Bringing stories to life: Paula Green and the vibrant world of Pohū Arts

12 Mar 2025

Murals have the power to transform ordinary spaces into vibrant, meaningful places that tell a story. For Paula Green and her daughter Grace, mural art is more than just painting walls; it’s about weaving local narratives, building community spirit and adding colour to public spaces. Together, they form Pohū Arts, a mother-daughter mural team dedicated to bringing creativity and storytelling into the heart of communities across Auckland.

Paula and Grace’s journey into mural art began with a single project, but it quickly evolved into a shared passion. Working together has not only allowed them to create stunning large-scale artworks but has also deepened their creative bond.

“We’re not just painting walls, we’re telling stories and making connections,” says Paula. “And the best part is we’re creating together.”

While they love transforming indoor and outdoor spaces, their artistic ambitions continue to grow. “One day, we’d love to paint a train, a train station, a plane and a massive wall that needs a cherry picker!” Paula says. Their work blends different artistic styles, with Grace focusing on digital mediums and Paula incorporating sculpture and interactive storytelling into their pieces, such as The Pohū Game, a public art installation.

Paula and her daughter Grace. 

Paula and Grace at the Mt Roskill Bike Hub – a collaboration with Vic.

Pohū Arts has brought their colourful, community-driven murals to several locations around Auckland, including Sandringham Community Centre, Manukau Bike Hub, Mt Roskill Bike Hub, Manurewa Bike Hub and Chorus boxes in Manurewa and Manukau.

Each mural is a reflection of the people and places they represent, celebrating movement, energy and connection. The duo enjoys embedding hidden “Easter eggs” into their designs – small details inspired by real-time conversations with the community, making each piece uniquely personal.

This Chorus box in Manurewa is painted in Resene Malibu, Resene Scrumptious, Resene Jungle Juice, Resene Kaitoke Green, Resene Buttercup, Resene Twice As Nice, Resene Red Hot, Resene Turbo Fizz and Resene Tangerine. "Harakeke signifies whanau and was prized by Māori and used for a multitude of purposes," Paula says. "Woven garments incorporating harakeke were worn by most people and the fibre was used for ropes, fishing lines and net making. The plant’s nectar was used as a sweetener, the dried flower stalks were lashed together to make mōkihi (rafts), and the pia (gum) and boiled roots were used for medicinal purposes. The clay soil colour belongs to the uku of Manurewa. 

This Chorus box is painted in Resene Scrumptious, Resene Tangerine, Resene Curious Blue, Resene Japanese Laurel, Resene Tree Frog, Resene Buttercup, Resene Sassy, Resene Ballerina and Resene Red Hot. "The piwakawaka is renowned for its curious and energetic nature, bringing forth a sense of joy and liveliness," Paula says. "The pōhutukawa, also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree, introduces a specific and iconic natural element to the imagery and is associated with the summer season. The fantail is seen as a symbol of good luck and it’s presence tells you that everything will be alright. The inclusion of polka dots in the background adds a whimsical and playful touch, contributing to the overall lightheartedness and cheerfulness of the art. There is also a “Kia Ora” added to the top (in case anyone flying over will be able to see it) and a gift of a single huia feather as a symbol of our language and heritage added for the educational institution “Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.” A kaitiaki of the cabinet."

Murals aren’t just for public spaces, they can also bring personality and creativity into homes. Paula and Grace share their top tips for anyone wanting to paint their own mural:

Plan your design: Sketch it out first, use a projector or masking tape and don’t be afraid to experiment. Creating a draft helps refine the vision before committing to paint.

Prioritise safety: Set up ladders properly, wear gloves and glasses and always use protective gear when working with sprays or sealants.

Prepare the surface: A well-primed wall makes all the difference. Use the right primers and take the time to prep properly.

Choose the right tools: Good-quality brushes are enough to get started. Paula and Grace began painting everything by hand before investing in professional tools.

Start small: A full-wall mural can feel overwhelming, so begin with a feature section and build from there.

Embrace mistakes:Instead of aiming for perfection, adjust as needed and see mistakes as part of the learning process.

Be bold and have fun:Murals are about expression and creativity, so trust your vision and enjoy the process!

One of their standout projects was designing murals for Auckland Transport’s Bike Hubs in Manurewa and Manukau. These murals were designed to create welcoming, visually engaging spaces that reflect local culture and community identity:

Manurewa Bike Hub is inspired by the legend of Kupe and the Giant Wheke (Octopus), this mural features Matariki, a fishing moon and the Southern Cross, set against a bold Pasifika pattern. This mural is painted in Resene Blue Diamond, Resene Scrumptious, Resene Cobalt, Resene Adrenalin, Resene Switched On, Resene Quarter Surrender, Resene Double Stack, Resene Dancing Girl, Resene Picton Blue, Resene Half Rivergum, Resene Float, Resene French Pass, Resene Daisy Bush, Resene Lightning Yellow, Resene Rock Spray and Resene Séance.

Manukau Bike Hub features pōhutukawa, tī kōuka (cabbage tree), silver fern and a family of kiwi on bikes. This mural celebrates nature and movement. The backdrop includes Maunga Matukutūreia, a significant local landmark. This mural is painted in Resene Endeavour, Resene Space Cadet, Resene Kaitoke Green, Resene Tree Frog, Resene Double Stack, Resene Turbo, Resene Hyperactive, Resene Scrumptious, Resene Daisy Bush, Resene Pōhutukawa, Resene Poppy, Resene Irish Coffee, Resene Lonestar, Resene Bush, Resene Goblin, Resene Olive Green.

These murals serve as vibrant markers, reinforcing the Bike Hubs as places for connection, sustainable transport and community learning.

Through Pohū Arts, Paula and Grace continue to push the boundaries of public art, inspiring connection and storytelling through their murals. They’re always on the lookout for new spaces to transform, whether it’s a home, a business or a large-scale community project.

“If you’ve got a wall, a space, or a wild idea, we’d love to chat!” says Paula.

Find out more about Paula and Pohū Arts: www.pohu.co.nz and https://paulagreenart.com/ 

More top mural tips:

• Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen is popular for painting murals as it comes in everything from large pails and cans of paint to Resene testpots so you can get just the right amount of colour.
• While most taggers leave murals alone, if your mural is in a graffiti-prone area, apply Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield to protect it.  If graffiti does happen you can clean it off with Resene Graffiti Cleaner.
• Resene runs an annual Murals Masterpieces competition. Find out more details and how to enter here.

Published: 12 Mar 2025