We believe that every ākonga (student) who attends our kura leaves a lasting mark on our hāpori (community). To celebrate this haerenga (journey), we began a special tradition in 2024 that we hope will continue long into the future, the Year 6 Legacy Mural project.
At the start of each year, our graduating cohort collaborate with local educator and artist Carolyn Dodd to design and execute a large-scale mural. This project serves as a “parting gift” to the school and a visual legacy that remains long after they have moved on to their next chapter.
Mihi atu ki a korua (Special thanks) to the amazing team at Resene, who support this project every year giving us a discounted rate on their product and our fantastic Turitea School PTA who fund the cost of the wooden panels. While Carolyn provides the professional guidance, artistic concept, and location for each piece, the heart of the mural comes from our ākonga (students).
Student-Led Design: All ideas and stories captured in the paint originate from the learners themselves.
A Collective Effort: Every single Year 6 student is involved in the creation of the mural, ensuring total ownership.
Lead Artists: To help bring the complex details to life, a small group of highly passionate artists are selected.
“These murals are more than just paint on a wall; they are the stories, memories, and identities of our students woven together for future generations to enjoy.”
2026 – Ko au te Kura, Ko Turitea ko au – I am Turitea and Turitea is me
This mural stretches proudly along the fence line by the field and bike track, consisting of seven circular panels that each represent a specific line from our kura pepeha. This intentional design invites our tamariki to walk alongside the art, absorbing and learning the pepeha as they move through the space. It is a physical journey of identity and belonging that connects our past, present, and future. The lead artists were Ihaia, Kyerin, Maya, Harriet, Munroe, Lily and Mackenzie. To see how this vision came to life, you can view the creative process here or watch our students explain the cultural elements and symbolism within the panels here.
2025 – Ngā Manu Tukutuku o Turitea – Our School Kites
This mural was designed to transform the back fence line behind the basketball court into a vibrant celebration of our four school uara (values). These values are beautifully depicted in the form of manu tukutuku (kites), symbolizing our aspirations and the high standards we set for ourselves. Each kite is thoughtfully split into three distinct sections: an animal that embodies our values in the natural world, insignia representing the diverse countries our tamariki call home, and a traditional tukutuku pattern that tells a unique story of our community. Our ten lead artists were Ben, Toby, Riley, Jack, Kazuri, Chris, Elisa, Ruby, Finn, and Amelia. You can follow the full journey of how this mural took flight by reading about it here.
2024 – Hākinakina – Sports and Activity
Driven by our tamariki and their collective love for sport, this interactive mural was created to transform the basketball court into a space of movement and inclusion. The students’ vision was to ensure that every member of our kura felt represented, showcasing the wide variety of sports and physical activities that bring our community together. To make the art truly come alive, the ākonga integrated interactive challenges such as “How high can you jump?” and “How far can you jump?”, alongside a hidden trail of various insects designed specifically for our teina (juniors) to discover and count. This mural serves as a vibrant play space where art meets athleticism, reflecting the energy of our learners and inviting everyone to get involved. You can explore the full creative process behind this project here.
