A NEW mural depicting mana, positivity and unity, has brought the rural community of Taneatua together.
The mural, which took four days to complete over Queen’s Birthday weekend, stands out in bright orange, black and white – the new Taneatua colours – and is painted on the old Saddlery on Tuhoe Street.
Both artists worked alongside their daughters and rangatahi, to reinstate “positive wairua” into their tribal lands.
Tohunga Michael Mika said the mural represented many things in life including rehabilitation, not only for oneself but for the community.
“It’s also about balance within oneself. It’s all about restoring positive wairua into the community through Maori art.
“It has already made a change in the community,” he said.
In the centre sits the mataora (facial tattoo) at the top, depicting mana tane (man’s right) and below, the moko kauae (chin tattoo) depicting mana wahine (woman’s right) etched in black.
On the sides, the kowhaiwhai patterns (visual art) mango pare, and koiri (Maori design) inside the kowhaiwhai, represents strength and whanau.
Tohunga Maea Rurehe of Ngai Tuhoe said the side pieces represented community and the essence of Taneatua.
“It’s about growing a sense of unity and positivity within our tribal iwi.”
There’s was also a strong link to the rangatira and tipuna, Taneatua, Mr Rurehe said.
“We captured him through the manaia (beaked figures), which sit at the bottom left corner and on the top right corner, representing the chief’s fascination and love for dogs.
“It gives acknowledgement and respect to the great chief.
He said, it was important for people to pay tribute to the past and who they were, and where they came from.
“We’re not just who we think we are today, and this gives us a sense of pride and how we as tangata whenua have come to be here,” he said.
Whanaungatanga (kinship) was shared with many of the local tamariki, youth, and manuhiri (visitors) at the weekend painting, and kai was had by all.
“The kids had a totiti (sausage) and chips donated by Geekays, and we even had some lollies and goodies for the kids,” he said.
The mural paint, workmanship and aroha, was donated by Akim ink and Maea Rurehe Taamoko.