The Cath Brown Memorial Cupboard Mural was created as part of the Gifted and Talented Art workshop attended by Dunsandel, Leeston and Southbridge Schools and Ellesmere College.

Staff, students and parents attended the event as well as members of Te Taumutu Rūnanga.

The mural depicts the Port Hills, the Canterbury Plains, Te Waihora, the sea, associated fish and birds in the area as well as the taniwha, Tūterakihaunoa.

Cath Brown was an inspirational local artist, from Ngāti Moki Marae, who willingly shared her talents with students at Christchurch Teachers’ College and the wider community over many years.

This year, four local schools joined forces as a cluster, Ngā Mātāpuna o Te Waihora, to provide extra opportunities for our Gifted and Talented learners. Wendy Huriwai of Southbridge School organised the first of the four experiences planned for the year; with a focus on Māori visual arts.

Cath’s niece, Liz Brown, led the way, incorporating a range of traditional Māori arts into her concept design, which depicted Ngā Kōhatu Whakarakaraka o Tamatea Pōkai Whenua (the Port Hills), Te Ahu Patiki (Mount Herbert), Ngā Pākihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha (the Canterbury Plains), and Te Waihora with its local wildlife; tuna (eels), pātiki, (flounder), pūkeko, aua (mullet), and the taniwha of Fisherman’s Point and the Rakaia River, Tūterakihaunoa. The artwork included kōwhaiwhai patterns, flax weaving and tukutuku panels.

The 18 students were involved in a two-day workshop, learning the skills to help create this collaborative artwork, which will take pride of place in the whare wānanga for generations to come.

From left, Hunter Boaz, Lee Corssan, Ariana Calixto, Vinny Hardcastle and Fletcher Ven Weerden in front of the memorial mural.

From left, Hunter Boaz, Lee Corssan, Ariana Calixto, Vinny Hardcastle and Fletcher Ven Weerden in front of the memorial mural.

From left, Freddie Gash, George Tucker (Ellesmere College students) with Peri Drysdale of Untouched World, Maria Connolly (Ellesmere College teacher) and Daphne O’Connell.

From left, Freddie Gash, George Tucker (Ellesmere College students) with Peri Drysdale of Untouched World, Maria Connolly (Ellesmere College teacher) and Daphne O’Connell.