Wallpaper
Kahurere is a new brand of hand-drawn wallpapers by Morgan Darlison, each design telling a unique story.
Interiors in 2026 are highly personalised. There is freedom to decorate our homes to suit ourselves, and we’re gravitating towards warm colours, patterns and textures, and connections to nature. Maximalism is ‘in’, albeit in a more restrained version, and wallpaper is a key player when it comes to adding depth and character.
Family, community and a sense of place are strong themes in New Zealanders’ homes, now perfectly captured in a range of wallpapers from Kahurere, a new brand by artist and designer Morgan Darlison.
“To me, the best thing about these wallpapers is that they are full of narrative,” says Morgan. “There’s a story behind everything that I do. People want to identify with their spaces, and that’s what’s so special about our range.”
Each Kahurere wallpaper design has been hand-drawn by Morgan, with a Māori influence.
“The name Kahurere itself is very special to me. It comes from a long line of my Waikato whakapapa and represents my really strong female tīpuna. I wanted Kahurere to show my love for a lot of different histories, merged histories, and this range has that old Christchurch, antique Victorian style.”
Quintessentially Kiwi, the wallpapers depict our taonga species of native birds and plants, using Māori forms with a filigree feel. The aesthetic is warm and moody, says Morgan, and all are pencil-illustrated and highly detailed. “I have lighter tones of sand and bone as well as the deep colourways, but it’s all very earthy.”
She relished the opportunity for free rein in her creativity, and there is intention behind every element. The paper is printed in Aotearoa, which was of huge importance to Morgan to forge relationships to both support and be supported by local suppliers. Quality was also key, with the 10m-long rolls available in a variety of luxe textures, including linen and a hessian with a canvas-like feel.
Morgan has long experience in spatial design, graphic design and corporate branding and is thrilled to now see installations of her Kahurere wallpaper in large commercial projects such as Lincoln University and Te Kaha One New Zealand Stadium.
Intended for larger residential and commercial projects nationwide, the range of wallpapers can be specified via interior designers or architects.
Says Morgan: “Kahurere was an idea born out of my artistic expression. The true essence of it is to tell our stories visually, from my own hand, and just create some beautiful wall coverings.”
