Join the hunt for 'Kiwi Banksy' work

E Mervyn Taylor's mural Lest We Forget in the Hall of Memories at the Masterton War Memorial Stadium.

New Zealand may have its very own version of British street artist, Banksy, in the works of a Kiwi mural maker whose lost art is being sought in order to honour his memory.

The Great Mural Hunt is under way for the 13 known murals created by E Mervyn Taylor between 1957 and 1964.

Massey University's College of Creative Arts wants to honour the memory of Taylor by attempting to track down missing murals known to have been created, but that have been covered up or lost to time.

The Early Settlers mural by E Mervyn Taylor in Masterton, when it was about to be covered in March 2013. Photo / Lynda Feringa

Masterton has two of Taylor's murals, Lest We Forget at the Masterton War Memorial Stadium, and Early Settlers in what was once the foyer of the Chief Post Office, on the corner of Queen St and Lincoln Rd. The latter is preserved behind a plasterboard wall and cannot be moved without notified consent.

Five known murals are still unaccounted for, three in Wellington.

The search was inspired by the recent discovery of Taylor's mural Te Ika-a-Maui, found stored in cardboard boxes.

Taylor, who studied at Wellington Polytechnic, a forerunner of the college, also used carved wood panels, sand-blasted glass windows and paint to create his distinctive works made at the end of his career.

Massey PhD candidate Bronwyn Holloway-Smith is undertaking the research.

"Taylor was passionate about the value of the creative arts within New Zealand.

"Currently we have identified five works which are missing and potentially lost, two that are currently hidden - whether partially or fully, and six that are in good condition."

"After many hours spent trawling through archival records, we are now seeking the help of anyone who might have encountered these works in the past, and has personal recollection of them.

"Members of the public, former building owners, people who worked in or visited the buildings, or architects and designers who have been involved in refurbishments over the years are all people who might know something about the fate of these works," she said.

As the College of Creative Arts commemorates its 130th year in 2016, staff, led by Ms Holloway-Smith as project director, are dedicating work to the research and recovery of Mr Taylor's abandoned murals.

"His work provides us with a fresh perspective on New Zealand history that hasn't necessarily been protected, but is essential in ensuring a more accurate understanding of what we represent as a nation."

To capture Taylor's distinctive language of art and design, Ms Holloway-Smith is researching, cataloguing and documenting the status of each mural. "As an artist myself, it breaks my heart to think these remarkable works - many commissioned for the people of New Zealand with public money - could have simply been lost and forgotten if the College of Creative Arts hadn't taken the initiative to step up and support this project."

She complimented Masterton for preserving its two murals.

"We are still asking anyone in the region who might have information about other public works of art from this era to come forward so they can be recorded."