Merkens is renowned for his work Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans. This is an international public art programme that features contemporary artists creating large-scale public murals which address pressing environmental issues facing the oceans. His murals can be seen all over the world.

“The ocean is incredibly important,” he says, “and creating this mural has given me a chance to highlight, on a grand scale, what’s so beautiful about it and what must be protected, and its relevance to our people and culture.

“It was a pleasure to be able to exemplify the Maritime Museum’s increasing focus on ocean health and sustainability by making the predominant design element of the mural the natural environment of the Hauraki Gulf and the Waitematā.”

A life-sized humpback whale and giant octopus along with marine life found in our waters, such as hammerhead and mako sharks, kahawai, and snapper swim among sea grasses and other ocean habitats.

Matariki and other significant celestial navigation markers fill the night sky, with Auckland’s iconic Rangitoto presiding majestically in the background. The flowing waves representing the journeys our ancestors made to Aotearoa are enhanced by depictions of the waka hourua Haunui and the brigantine Breeze, two vessels that are berthed in the Maritime Museum marina where they educate visitors about voyaging skills from both Māori and Pākehā traditions.

The mural was made possible with support from the Chisholm Whitney Charitable Trust, Maritime Museum Foundation, and Resene.