A cultural mural designed by more than 100 students is being displayed in a Te Puke kiwifruit pack house to celebrate MÄori language and the legend of MÄuao.
Students of the MÄori mentoring youth education programme - He Ara Tika, designed a mural which is being displayed in a Te Puke post harvester pack house.More than 100 students designed a mural celebrating cultural identity.
The 6.5m wide and 1.8m tall mural spelling the word tÄtou – meaning we or us, is painted on the wall at Te Puke post harvester Direct Management Services Ltd.
Painted on the light blue letters are several cultural designs which were drawn to explain the MÄori legend of MÄuao - Mount Maunganui.
He Ara Tika Manager Huey Rurehe says the students are honoured to have designed a mural expressing MÄori culture which aligns closely with DMS work values.
'We have the honour of imparting not only our Maori Language through the use of the word tÄtou, but history through the telling of the Story of MÄuao.
'Not only do we get to share our language, culture, stories and identity with the many different employees of various global ethnicities at DMS, it has also given some of our young people an idea of future career pathways which has been an unexpected bonus.
'It also means if any of our students family members are ever employed by DMS they will feel a great personal connection to the mural knowing one of their own has had a hand in the creation of tÄtou.
He Ara Tika has been running in six Bay of Plenty colleges including Tauranga Boy's College, Tauranga Girls' College, Mount Maunganui, Otumoetai College, Katikati College and Aquanis College for eight Years.
About 120 students are involved in the youth education programme focused around cultural identity. The programme also assists with career exploration and planning.
Tauranga Boys' College head boy Hautapu Baker is among the students involved in the designing of the mural. Hautapu is the first MÄori student from Aronui, the Maori department at the college to become head boy.
'He has been an exemplary role model and leader not only for the programme but for the rest of our He Ara Tika students throughout the Western Bay.”
DMS is a huge employer of casual staff during the kiwifruit season and Huey says DMS Pro Growers Chief Operating Officer Derek Masters suggested the mural would be a good way to install pride between employers and employees.
'Derek was wanting us to produce an artwork that would connect with the high percentage of Maori workers within their business.”
Huey is proud of what the young people of He Ara Tika have produced.
'This has been a very rewarding project for all the members of our He Ara Tika Maori Youth Mentoring Programme who participated and will be something they can be proud of for many years to come.”
The mural was officially welcomed at the Te Puke post harvester on November 30.
2 comments
LINKAGE HERE?
Posted on 09-12-2012 16:13 | By PLONKER
The Treaty claims and the kiwifruit industry are/should be in the same basket here. They have a parallel future on that one.
english letters
Posted on 10-12-2012 07:33 | By Major Think
When did letters from the english alphabet become part of maori culture? Incidentally, as far as I know, there has been no compensation paid to us non-maori for the use and abuse of these letters which also coincidentally appear in the "maori alphabet". Yes, the mural looks pleasing enough to the eye, but isn't it time ,at that age, to give up on myths and legends? I gave up on the tooth fairy and santa long before I was ten years old.
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