"E hara taku toa I te takitahi, He toa taki tini" “My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective”

Over the past few months, students from Milford Schoolhave participated in creating a mural that will soon be installed in Takapuna. This mural was created by our Pupuke Kahui Ako schools, working with Auckland Council regeneration agency Eke Panuku.

Our students have been central to this project, with their involvement charging creativity and education surrounding Toi Māori in the younger generation. Students participated in two educational workshops and contributed towards the design with their own artworks.

The students involved from our school were Meera Unka, Ashleigh Robertson, Jafar Hosseini, Flynn Barrance, Melissa Kim, Bailey Li and Joshua Wild and supported by Across School Leads Paula Snowball and Charlotte Barrance.

The Pupuke Art Mural focuses on the natural beauty of Takapuna, incorporating kowhaiwhai (traditional Māori patterns) and Māori designs of the natural world in which they are based. It not only stands as a beautiful symbol of collaboration and ecology, but also celebrates the identity of Takapuna by showcasing Māori motifs, providing a platform for learning and understanding to take place between people. It is another fantastic example of community engagement initiatives between our Community of Learning.

The project was led by local artist Emma Jane Ormsby of Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Porou descent, with support from mana whenua. Emma is a student at Elam School of Fine Arts and Te Wananga ō Aotearoa, and is undertaking a major in Whakairo (Māori wood-carving).

The mural will be installed in early December on the Auburn Street development location known as the Gasometer site. Please look out for this amazing collaborative artwork over summer when you are in Takapuna.