Art & creativity, Things to do  |  20 Mar 2025

Share this story

A trail of hand painted and crafted surfboards will be on display around New Brighton as part of the Duke Surf Festival.

The CARVE Street Art Trail showcases the work of 19 local and emerging artists.

A new event for 2025, the trail features boards on display at iconic locations throughout the New Brighton mall and surrounds.

It starts at the clock tower and finishes where the surf and skate competitions are held on the foreshore. A map is available at local businesses and at festival headquarters opposite the library. 

Each surfboard design is unique and reflects what New Brighton means to each artist.

For Georgia Harmon, it’s a connection with her Samoan ancestry.

“My board tells the story of how our Polynesian ancestors came to the new lands and shows all the elements that aided them in their journey: seabirds, stars, wind and swell.”

The artist and musician grew up in New Brighton and is one of the festival organisers. 

She says the art trail is a welcome addition.

“Duke Festival is about community, connection. This honors Duke Kahanamoku’s dream of sharing Aloha with the world through surfing."

Some of the works that will be on display as part of the CARVE Street Art Trail in New Brighton. 

Free tours will be given during the festival, which runs from Thursday 20 March to Sunday 23 March. Bookings are required and can be made online.

For those who miss seeing them this weekend, the boards will remain on display for two weeks after the festival. They will then be sold and the proceeds used to support surf lessons for primary schools in the east of the city.

The CARVE Street Art Trail was supported by a grant from the Christchurch City Council’s Place Partnership Fund.

Council Urban Design Team Leader Ceciel DelaRue says the art trail has been designed to celebrate the culture and community that exists in New Brighton. 

"It's fantastic to be able to support projects like this through the Fund," she says. 

“Many people will have memories and connections to New Brighton, even if they don’t live there. The art trail is a great way for emerging artists to share their stories and to showcase the creativity and sense of community in this evolving suburb.”

Find more information about the Duke Surf Festival and the CARVE Street Art Trail.