Brett Muir – King of the Castle Sandart

The human fascination with castles has a millennia-long history, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Historically, castles or fortifications once stood as protectors of most people’s villages, pā, or communities. Castles pervade popular culture; even before learning to read or write, children are enchanted by the magic, heroism and romance of castles in bedtime fairy tales and films like “Frozen.” People have grown up with iconic images, such as the Disneyland castle. Video games, books, and movies, including “Harry Potter,” “Game of Thrones,” and “The Lord of the Rings,” where castles are practically characters on their own, blend history and mythology to captivate audiences worldwide. And let’s not forget the hordes of tourists storming actual castles worldwide, because who doesn’t love a good turret?

Papamoa resident, Brett Muir’s 20-year journey of sandcastle construction began as a bonding activity with his children and evolved into a unique passion. Brett’s whimsical pop-up creations are gravity-defying works of art that make you wonder if he’s got a secret stash of magic sand. His talent was nationally recognized in 2013 when he clinched a victory in Hyundai New Zealand’s sandcastle contest, followed by wins in various regional and national sand sculpture competitions, including the Individual and People’s Choice categories at the New Zealand Sandcastle Competition. Brett’s artistry has been featured in various New Zealand publications, and he has made guest appearances on TV shows including “What Now” and “The Block.”

During the Covid lockdowns, Brett sculpted castles with uplifting messages on Papamoa Beach, images of which spread widely through online conversations among friends on social media. Invariably, curious beachgoers want to know how the castles are engineered to defy gravity when they are built out of nothing but beach sand. Brett began fielding regular requests for lessons in sandcastle building, and in response, created King of the Castle Sandart.

Brett’s interactive lessons on the beaches of Papamoa and Mount Maunganui turn rookie castle constructors into sand-sculpting savants. With just a few tools and household item hacks, novices learn the art of hand-stacking and crafting sand masterpieces they can show off during their next beach day.