Mural Masterpieces - Ongarue School

Location:
Ongarue School.

Team:
Students of Ongarue School with community members – Missy Hemma, Karen Whatarangi, Dave Teata, Gus Rata, Pinia Roberts and John Etana.

Accessible to public:
Yes.

Mural theme:
Our school, past and present. Our district, past and present, as one together.

Background to mural creation:
This mural was designed to promote our special character, to unite the two districts as one, decorate the library wall, involve the children in creating an artwork and to create a Taonga.

The library is built of heart rimu and is a lovely old Taranaki building. The wide veranda overhang is the perfect place for the protection of the mural while still being visible from the road and the main truck railway line.

A neighbouring school, Waimiha, closed and those children came to Ongarue, so the mural was designed to reflect this coming together.

The mural depicts the first school building moved from the Poro-o-tarao tunnel to the Ongarue School site and which was later moved off the site and became a church. The railway lines represent the steps of knowledge. The tunnel entrance represents Ngarihi’s cave and the doorways to the maraes and the Poro-o-tarao tunnel. The faces represent ancestors and the woman’s face is Ngarihi who represents their maunga. They keep watch. Eeling is a favourite pastime reflected in the mural. The edging in pixels depicts the future technology coming to Ongarue.

Mural Masterpieces competition
Mural Masterpieces gallery - 2011 winners - 2010 winners - 2009 winners - 2007 winners - 2005 winners - 2003 winners