Potty Art

Kawakawa, New Zealand is famous for its... toilets. In 1997, Austrian architect and ecologist Friedrich Hundertwasser was commissioned to design the town's public toilets. The man was declared a Living Treasure of New Zealand.

To quote the brochure: "The Kawakawa toilet block with its ceramic columns, garden roof and curving, colorful exuberance has put the Northland town of Kawakawa on the international tourist route and travelers from around the world pay homage to the man and his unique, architectural charm."

After the toilet photographs, I have included a picture of the rest of the town. That should help you understand why the toilets get so much attention. There's not much else going on in Kawakawa!

A further note about toilets... Kiwis never use the terms "bathroom" or "lavatory" or "restroom." The word "toilet" refers to the throne itself and the room as a whole. It was a bit jarring at first, but I've become accustomed to NZ's "tell it like it is" attitude. I think part of the reason for the use of the word "toilet" (as opposed to "bathroom") is that the toilet and shower/bath are located in separate rooms.

Finally... the flush mechanism on NZ toilets varies according to what type of deposit you've made. The toilet comes equipped with both "half flush" and "full flush" buttons. More than you ever wanted to know!