Mural celebrates Pasifika journey

A delicate depiction of early Polynesian navigation now shines from a wall at Motueka Kindergarten.

The mural shows the arrival of Polynesian settlers, following the stars to the uninhabited land of Aotearoa. The artist, Pip Richards, says that he wanted it to show the transporting of culture that was then merged into something new.

Kindergarten teacher Joeline Jones says that they are undertaking a learning journey about Pasifika, “and so we wanted to incorporate that into our environment”.

The mural was inspired by a waiata about the three waka that are significant to the top of the South Island.

“Intrepid navigators and skills seafarers, the Polynesians used a sophisticated understanding of the stars to guide them.”

Joeline says that after discovering Aotearoa, the explorers returned to the land with their waka hourua (double-hulled waka) laden with men, women, children and supplies, “bringing with them a rich culture” – a culture that was to become Te Ao Māori.

Pip’s wife Sarah had done a placement at the kindergarten as part of her early childhood studies.

While there, she had painted some decorations on the inside of the sandpit structure, to the delight of the children. The centre asked if she would be willing to do a further mural, and although she did not have time herself, “she lent us her husband instead,” Joeline laughs.

Pip’s mural covers the outside wall of the same structure, and he explains that it shows the traditional tapa cloth motif from a variety of Pacific cultures, with a nod to Te Ra, the sole remaining customary Māori sail.

“It was just enjoyable painting beautiful scenes in a cool place.”

Pip says he is keen to undertake more mural work in the community. He can be contacted at pip.richards1988@gmail.com

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