Ben, a regular customer at the New Brighton Seaside Market, wearing a grey marle t-shirt with an all-over Bluff weta print, showcasing Shaun Waugh’s Surface Active New Zealand Nature T-shirt stall in Brighton Mall on Saturday mornings.
May 13, 2024 / / No Comments

Don’t say “ooh!”, say “aah!!” for this is one of the best-looking wetas you’ll see. The recently rediscovered Bluff weta can be found in scree and on rocky bluffs at Kaikoura, Mt Somers in mid-Canterbury and all over this t-shirt.

The all-over design features four life-size pixel painted portraits of the Bluff weta, once thought lost to history, that roams free in the scree and rocky bluffs of the Kaikouras and Mt Somers in mid-Canterbury. The grey marle fabric of the t-shirt is the rocky texture of a mountain bluff for a comfortable fit. The design is also available on garments in a range of colours for women and kids.

A sage green Surface Active t-shirt with two colourful pixel painted weta on the front, one on the sleeve and one on the back.
Weta wonder! This eye-catching t-shirt features four lifelike pixel painted Bluff weta, bringing a touch of New Zealand’s unique insect life to your wardrobe.

Because the colours of this design are earth toned and the weta is casting a shadow, the best colours for the t-shirt are on greys and earth-toned pastel hues. The lighter toned backgrounds help create the tromp l’oeil effect, the illusion of three dimensional space and the weta in three dimensions standing on the two dimensional surface of a t-shirt—clever shading and perspective tricks the viewer into thinking that the weta paintings are real. The Bluff weta design is also available on longsleeve tees.

Choose how you shop for your Men’s, Women’s or Kids’ Bluff Weta all-over t-shirt:

  • at our New Zealand e-store based in Tauranga,
  • our International e-store based in the United States,
  • from our retail outlet in New Brighton Mall; The Creatives Edit,
  • direct from New Brighton: Alternatively order directly from me for a custom made heat-pressed t-shirt. Ideal for pick-up at my New Brighton Seaside Market stall Saturdays, for me to cycle deliver locally or to send via courier post.
  • Note garment colour and size information is below the order form.

Order Form For Custom T-Shirt Made by Shaun in New Brighton

Shaun Waugh from Surface Active is the guy creating you custom tee for you with the assistance of his Christchurch custom print provider Merch Kings. (Note: if you are a New Brighton local, he’s the t-Shirt man at the Saturday Brighton Market)

Shaun designs and heatpresses all his art on garments. The print quality delivered by the DTF printing process is exceptional and the finished product is carefully designed to be durable, reflecting the pride that Shaun has in hand-crafting his work.

iPrces for medium weight 185 gsm t-shirts printed by the artist in New Brighton:

  • Kids tees infant to toddler size, 1–4 yrs old: $20.00 plus shipping
  • Kids t-shirts youth size, 6–14 yrs old: $20.00 plus shipping
  • Mens/Unisex t-shirt: $57.50 plus shipping
  • Womens t-shirt: $57.50 plus shipping

Prices for heavy weight 220gsm long sleeve t-shirts

  • Mens/Unisex longsleeve t-shirt, heavy weight 220 gsm: $71.00 plus shipping
  • Womens longsleeve t-shirt, heavy weight 220 gsm: $71.00 plus shipping

Shipping is via Courier Post, price starts at $8 for 1 adult shirt, $10 for two or more.

Customer Details

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Bank Details

Bank: Kiwibank
Account Name: MagentaDot Limited
Account Number: 38-90090359221-00
Use Reference: Your name

Details: Our high resolution artwork and water-based ink system ensure that our wildlife art prints are crisp and vibrant, the sharpness and details of small dots and fine lines is clear and well defined, the prints are securely bonded to the fabric, they feel soft, smooth and blended in with the garment. While our T-shirts are well made from 100% combed ring-spun cotton*, they’re constructed from 185gsm (mid-weight) fabric, pre-shrunk, anti-pill.

  • Tight knit for superior printability and handfeel
  • Side seams for better fit and to prevent twisting
  • Shoulder to shoulder reinforcing tape
  • Twin-needle stitching on body and sleeve hems

* Marle colours have a 15 percent viscose content to produce that classic marle look.

Choose Colour (Note: Most popular set of shirt colours are emphasised in bold)

Surface Active’s t-shirt suppliers colour chart to assist customers to identify the right t-shirt for them.
Top row: Black, Black Marle, Dark Grey, Grey Marle, Sage, Khaki, Kelly, Navy.
Middle row: Denim Marle, Bluestone, Deep Royal, Aqua, Pale Sky, Lavender, Purple, Maroon.
Bottom row: Rust, Red, Pale Pink, Orange, Tan, Ivory, White.
(Note: Outsize shirts are available up to 9XL in 5 colours: White, Black, Dark Grey, Navy & Grey Marle)

Choose size

Size chart of Surface Actives mens’ t-shirt sizes.
Mens’ size chart.
Womens’ size chart.
Kids’ size chart.

Thank you so much for purchasing one of our Surface Active New Zealand Nature t-shirts.

While our delivery target of 1 week is usually achieved, we ask that you allow us up to 2 weeks to print and deliver your custom made t-shirt to you.

A rust orange Surface Active t-shirt with two colourful pixel painted weta on the front, one on the sleeve and one on the back.
Show your weta pride! This fun Surface Active t-shirt showcases four vibrant pixel paintings of the mighty Bluff weta—Deinacrida elegans. The Deinacrida name for New Zealand’s giant weta means demon grasshopper. A perfect conversation starter for any nature lover.

The New Zealand Nature T-Shirt Company


Bug out in style! This eye-catching t-shirt features four three-dimensional pixel painted weta scattered across the garment—two on the front, one on the back, and one on the sleeve. A unique way to show your love for these fascinating New Zealand insects.

Calling all weta enthusiasts! Designed and printed by the artist in New Brighton, this fun t-shirt showcases four vibrant pixel painted depictions of the mighty Bluff weta. This royal blue shirt is being modelled by a happy customer at Brighton Gallery. This Surface Active New Zealand nature design is available in a variety of sizes, for men, women and kids—this is the perfect way to celebrate New Zealand’s unique wildlife.
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