Our School Mural

The painting represents the merge of past and present-our historical roots, today’s values and future dreams. The background takes its place from the hero, Tane Mahuta - god of forest and birds who separates heaven and earth.

In times past the forest was a significant feature in our local environment-the background silhouettes and some significant native tree species in our school and local environment- Orford Park, Totara Park, Nathan Homestead gardens. Peoples travelled through these forests from the local waters to the rich growing lands behind Manurewa which sustained many peoples with food-vegetables.

The native birds represent our four school houses. Birds are significant to Manurewa- 'drifting/soaring kite/bird'. The images of children, whoever they are, represent those most valued by us. The monarch butterfly represents the future and sustainability of our planet.

The rainbow ‘ta moko’ ties our past, present and future to our place in Manurewa. It takes its rainbow colours from the hero Uenuku-god of rainbows, a well known legend. The rainbow colours, too represent the ‘rainbow’ of peoples in our local community.

Legend

The legend of Uenuku is similar to many other vanishing lover tales such as Beauty and the Beast.

Uenuku was out hunting very early one morning when, in a clearing, he saw a beautiful girl, Tairi-a-kohu, who seemed to coalesce out of the morning mist. He persuaded her to stay and talk with him for a moment, and to return the next night, and the next, and the next, and before long they fell in love. Each night she would come to him but as a mist maiden her home was in the sky, so she had to leave him at dawn. At last she agreed to marry Uenuku on condition that he tell no-one about her.

They had a few months of happiness, though she still appeared only at night and left at dawn, and in time a little girl was born to them. But Uenuku's friends were skeptical of this wife and child they had never seen. He tried to explain that she left him each morning at first light, so his friends suggested that he block up the doors and windows so she could not see the sun. This he did, but of course the trick was discovered and when the mist maiden knew he had deceived her, she left him.

Uenuku wandered the world searching for his beloved wife and daughter. At last, seeing him lonely and bent with age, Rangi the Skyfather took pity on him and changed him into a rainbow so that he could join his family in the sky.