Mural Masterpieces - Te Kopuru School
Location:
Te Kopuru School, Norton Street, Te Kopuru.
Team:
Vale Boost, Nathan Lang, Freya Puharich, Heath Cossill, Senura
de Silva, Jasmine Vallender, Amanda Hutching, Brandon Ferguson,
Shayne Collins, Tarawhite Fenton.
Assisted by Karyn Templeton and George.
Accessible to public:
Yes.
Mural theme:
Te Kopuru School Vision.
Background to mural creation:
Ten extension art students joined together to portray the
school vision through the medium of a mural. The Whare Whakapiri
Tuhono o nga Tangata katoa (the house that brings all together)
represents Te Kopuru School. The three koru represent the values
that are modelled at the school - tika, pono and aroha (truth,
honesty and love).
Papatuanuku (Earth Mother) is the foundation of the school. She
teaches respect of the school, the staff, the community and one
another. These are represented by the amo (the brown sides) and
the maihi (the two red bargeboards) of the whare. They are the
protectors.
The hills represent scenes from the district. TokaToka and Maungaraho
are the maunga, the mountains. They teach all to be tall and proud
of who they are. They stand guard and give kaha, maia, manawanui.
They teach all to be strong, proud and steadfast. They are always
there.
Ranganui (Sky Father) is the shelter. He keeps everyone together.
Without his shelter, without his tears, there would be nothing.
The Wairoa river runs through the community. It is believed there
are three taniwha in the river. Ko Pokopoko, Rangiriri raua ko
Hoeroa.
Pokopoko is the guardian of the river.
Rangiruru is the log that swims against the tide. If seen he
is the bringer of bad news.
Where the freshwater and the saltwater meet in the river, a wave
is formed that travels upstream - this is Hoeroa.
The edges of the mural show the koru that represent the school.
Behind the koru are the symbols for the breath of life. Tihei
Maori Ora. He is the beginning, he is the end.
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