We are thrilled the Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke Mural has been honoured with an award in the Kei tua atu i te kaupapa Beyond the Brief category, of the 2022 Kūmara Awards.
The stunning 58m mural on Auburn Street, Takapuna is a collaborative work by local schools across the North Shore under the umbrella of Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke in conjunction with Auckland Council regeneration agency Eke Panuku.
The work was led by artist Emma Jane Ormsby (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou), a Westlake Girls High School alumna and artist currently studying a conjoint Arts (Māori Studies/Screen Production) and Fine Arts degree at the University of Auckland.
Emma said, “Having the mural selected as the winner of a kumara award is amazing, not only for myself but for everyone involved. It feels really validating, that Toi Māori within our public spaces is something people want to see more of. The mural was a massive group effort, and I am so proud of the very creative kids I got to work with. Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini, (Success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many). Takapuna is a beautiful part of Tāmaki Makaurau, having grown up here it holds a special place in my heart. Auckland has an incredibly diverse natural world and using kowhaiwhai and Māori imagery to encapsulate this deserves to be celebrated. Being a part of this mahi has been a real privilege, it has been a pleasure working with Eke Panuku and Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke and I am immensely grateful for their facilitation of this beautiful mural.”
Susana Tomaz, the Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke Across School Lead, at Westlake Girls High School who coordinated the project, said the vision of Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke is to create a rich, collaborative culture that unites kura, pouako, akonga and whānau to work collectively on a common goal for the benefit of all. “The significance of the work is not just in the beautiful piece of art that was produced but the in-depth, involved and collaborative process led by Emma working with teachers from across nine different schools to share knowledge with students”.
Eke Panuku Placemaker Roxie Haines said, “It was very special to help bring this project to life and we are thrilled to see it recognised in this way. We hope that it will inspire and motivate others to think about getting involved in similar projects that bring colour and creativity into our places. It is so important for young people to play a part in making our city and Eke Panuku is constantly working towards locals having input into Making Amazing Places.”
Being in both a commercial and residential part of Takapuna, the work has also won the hearts of residents and businesses who have welcomed something so creative and colourful in their neighbourhood. Parents and grandparents who have visited to see their child’s artwork have been blown away by the depth and breadth of the project. The project has also been used across the town square construction hoarding in Takapuna, building continuity and adding colour across Takapuna.
