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 Westlake Girls have participated in creating a mural that will be installed in Takapuna. This 60m mural was created by schools across the North Shore, under the umbrella of Pupuke Kāhui Ako and working with Auckland Council regeneration agency Eke Panuku.

Local tamariki 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, with support from Susana Tomaz were:

Crystal Mo                                 Christina Park
Gianna Marigondon                  Zoe Barber
Nida Naqvi                                 Anna Onishi-Lee
Emersyn Mack                           Krisha Lad
Grace Park                                 Hiba Mohamed Rizwan
Meadow Mauger                       Jacqueline Choi
Nguyen Bui

This Pupuke 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.

The project was led by local artist and Westlake Alumni 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 next week on the Auburn Street development location known as the Gasometer site. Part of the site has already become home to the Toka Puia car park, with the rest soon to become home to a high-quality mix of homes, shops and businesses that will make Takapuna an even better place to live, visit and work in. At Eke Panuku Development Auckland, our work in Takapuna is all about making the most of the neighbourhood’s striking sea-and-lake location.