The beach, pōhutukawa, and kuaka (godwit) are just a few of the great ideas from Ōmokoroa Point School to feature on a new billboard sign at the entrance to Ōmokoroa.

The new billboard design will also feature a tohutō on the O of Ōmokoroa, following a successful campaign by Ōmokoroa Point School's Room 10.

In September students presented Operation Tohutō to Western Bay of Plenty District Council, calling for a review of signage around the district to include a tohutō on Ōmokoroa, and any that have a legal name with a tohutō be updated. Their request was unanimously agreed to by Councillors.

Following their presentation, Council CEO John Holyoake invited the class to help design the new Ōmokoroa billboard at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Ōmokoroa Road.

This week they took up the invitation and continued to lead their community initiative by participating in a co-design workshop with Council. The Council team visited Room 10 and worked with students to voice and illustrate their ideas of what Ōmokoroa means to them.

School Principal Sandra Portegys says Room 10 and Ōmokoroa Point School are excited to be part of the design process for the new sign.

”We thank the Council for inviting us to be part of this. The designing of a new sign for Ōmokoroa shows the students that they do have a voice and they can participate in the democratic process to make change.

'We talk to our students about being an upstander, not a bystander when they see something that is not right. Room 10 is doing this through Operation Tohutō and I'm very proud of them.”

Vivienne from Room 10 was chuffed with the opportunity to contribute. 'We get to have a say in designing the billboard. It's great Council have taken time to visit, interact and help us.”

Fellow student Evan agreed saying, 'It's good giving kids a chance for an idea for the billboard.”

From left, Hana, Vivienne, and Evan show off their ideas for the new billboard.

Hana is excited to see the final design. 'It's cool! When we get to go pass the billboard, we get to see what we love about Ōmokoroa.”

Council CEO John Holyoake says Council really appreciates Room 10's mahi to be advocates in their community, and for helping us design the billboard.

'Students in Room 10 have shown we need more rangatahi, to lead change in our communities, to use their voice and show how to use and respect the reo. They should feel proud of their achievements. This is what generation change is all about.”

'It was fantastic to take part in the workshop and to talk with the students about what they love about Ōmokoroa,” says John.

The new billboard is planned to be revealed to Ōmokoroa Point School and local hapū with Room 10's help in the coming months, before it's placed at the entrance to Ōmokoroa.