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Students brighten up learning environment

Titiro Whakamua – Hutt Valley Teen Parent School students brighten up learning environment



Upper Hutt City Council and professional artist Claire Rye have worked collaboratively with teen parent school students to install a vibrant new mural at their facility.

UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 23 JUN 2016—A new mural installed in the main learning area at Titiro Whakamua – Hutt Valley Teen Parent School is a huge success—both in its visual impact on the learning environment and the collaborative team effort between Upper Hutt City Council and the school’s students.

This project began after one of the school’s teachers, Neroli Field, saw several other murals in the city and wondered how her students could become involved. She contacted Upper Hutt City Council to see if there was an opportunity for the school’s young women to develop a mural at their school.

The project was financed through the Ministry of Youth Development’s Youth Partnership Fund. This is the latest in a series of mural projects that Upper Hutt City Council has supported over the past 12 months.

As in previous mural projects, the young women involved in this project were responsible for surveying their community to get input before designing and installing the mural. The young women also had to identify what materials were required along with any health and safety requirements to ensure that the mural was installed safely and professionally.

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To the students and the school community at Titiro Whakamua – Hutt Valley Teen Parent School the mural is more than a pretty picture. The presence of tui, kowhai, and ferns in the mural represent nature, new life, and a connection to Upper Hutt. Koru fronds, the ‘Joshua Tree’ (a memorial blossom tree planted at the school) and a mother and baby fantail represent love, loss, new life, and a connection to the school. A sunset and a mother’s glowing belly represent new life and change.

The mural was unveiled to school staff and students on 9 June. The young women involved in the project also presented a report about the mural project to the school’s Incorporated Society on 13 June.

“Council’s involvement in local mural projects has seen over 50 Upper Hutt young people develop new skills, and gain both practical knowledge and experience in order to participate more confidently in their communities,” says Council’s Director of Community Services, Mike Ryan. “Their contribution of over 440 volunteer hours has resulted in nine new murals and two rejuvenated murals across Upper Hutt. It has been great to support the participants’ growth in confidence and development of transferable skills. We have some amazing young people in our city.”


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