Mural Masterpieces – Te Totara School

Location:
Matariki Hall, Te Totara School, 31 Hector Drive, Hamilton.

Team:
Kate McMorran.

Accessible to public:
Yes.

Mural theme:
Our Place, Then and Now.

Background to mural creation:
Kate initially proposed “Then and Now” to bring some colour to a grey concrete wall and to visually represent the curriculum focus on Our Local History. Kate wanted the students to be able to actually see ‘Then and Now’, the past and the present.

The starting point for ‘Then’ was our suburb name ‘Rototuna’ reflecting the history of the peat lake, Tunawhakapeke, and the papakainga (unfortified village) named ‘Te Totara’, where Māori fished and preserved a vital food source and from which our school derives its name. A majestic Totara is said to have stood near the village and was considered to be a Rakau Tigua (a sacred tree).

In ‘Now’ Kate has included local landmarks mentioned by students when asked what comes to mind when they think of Hamilton, as well as places visited on school trips and where the school sports teams play. Kate usually works with as many children and our art leaders as possible, having messy fun using fingers as paintbrushes but lockdown forced a change to painting herself and using brushes allowed her to be more detail focused.

This mural has brightened a dull wall but can also teach students about the local history.