He's possibly the world's most enigmatic artist, and his work has popped up right here in Tauranga – or has it?

Two Banksy-esque designs can be found down the alley between Bohemian Tattoo Arts and Goddards Arcade.

As of yesterday, they were still there. A laminated sign proclaiming ‘professional artwork, do not touch' is pinned beside one, but it could only be a matter of time before they're painted over.

One of the paintings will be familiar to Banksy fans as the two lovers looking over one another's shoulders to check their phones, which originally appeared on a door in Bristol.

It later sold for around NZ$700,000.

Has Banksy daringly replicated this famous image in downtown Tauranga? Or is it the work of cunning imitator?

Another image on the opposite wall shows two distressed-looking children, with the phrase ‘big future LJE heart NZ' in red paint next to it.

A trail of grey paint leads away from the artwork and onto the footpath, where it trickles into a drain.

This image looks to be another replica, rather than a Banksy original.

But perhaps the mysterious avante-garde artist is simply warming us up for the big reveal?

Jane from Flow Pilates in Grey Street doubts they're real Banksy works.

'Lots of people were talking about them and coming in to ask which alleyway they were down.”

She speculates it was the guys from Bohemian Tattoo Arts, but the staff there claim they have nothing to do with it. It makes sense – after all, they do their excellent artwork on human canvases.

It's possible the artwork could be a preview of sorts for next year's Paradox Street Art Festival, to be held in Tauranga, which includes a display of authentic Banksy works.

In the meantime, the mystery remains.