Local Artist’s Contribution to Decades of Depression in Tāneatua

Auckland based Artist Te Marunui Hotene (winner of the Iti Waewae Award 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUkLuD6Z-4I&ab_channel=TeKarereTVNZ) and partner Erin Matariki Carr have organised a youth-focused project
through their organisation ©HUR, called the 'Tāneatua Skatepark Project' in their hometown of Tāneatua, which will come to life in the coming weeks.

The aim of the project is to dually give new life to the township’s worn skatepark in order to beautify the space for the community, bring people together and celebrate skating as a creative physical art form that nurtures the confidence and fitness of our local taiohi (youth). The space is used by local taiohi every day, however, it has become worn and old, and there aren’t enough skateboards to go around.

The project will consist of Te Marunui and a group of like-minded artists (Ali Selliman and Ahsin Ahsin) coming together to paint a mural that reflects the history of the township. The mural will be of Tāneatua, the navigator of the Mataatua waka, and his pack of kurī (in particular Ōtarahioī, who was known to be a favourite though mischief dog).

The couple will host the open day for the revitalised skate park on Saturday 25 March, featuring a professional skate demo by a crew from Auckland’s Def Store to inspire the young ones, live DJ Ramon Narayan, and a free BBQ to share with the community.

The idea behind this project came about last year when Te Marunui was living back home in Tāneatua and working with local youth through Tūhoe Hauora. There is a new energy in Tāneatua as it is rebuilding itself after decades of depression; this surge of energy has been promoted by the recent establishment of the Tāneatua Gallery (led by Laurence Hughes and Tame Iti) and the Tāneatua Hair Saloon (run by Toikairakau Iti).

Te Marunui and Erin have recently established flaxroots organisation ©HUR, which focuses on nurturing creativity and language as part of a balanced wellbeing through organising creative community projects for young people and their whānau. The Project is one of ©HUR’s first official events. More information on ©HUR can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/CHUR-wh%C4%81nau-199594453851752/?fref=ts

Another vital aspect of the project is to generate koha (donation) in order to fund the open day and skating gear for the local community. A few weeks ago a Boosted fundraiser was launched, which you can make contributions to here: https://www.boosted.org.nz/projects/taneatua-skatepark-project

Community Backing Behind the Project

Te Marunui and Erin met with Te Uru Taumatua, the Tāneatua Community Board, Te Kōmiti o Runa and the Tāneatua Gallery who are all on board with this event. Formal consent has been sought from the Whakatāne Council to paint the park. Local painting business Davey Painters have generously agreed to donate the paint.

Furthermore, Chey Ataria, NZ’s first Māori pro skateboarder and owner of Def Store, has kindly agreed to bring a team down from Auckland to do a pro skate demo, and will also be donating skateboards and gears for the local taiohi (youth). Tūhoe Hauora is generously helping provide the kai for the BBQ. Resene has just confirmed sponsoring this event also.

ends

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