Leading from the front issuu

Sallie
kindly gifted
Maraenui Green
to Pat’s art auction in
honour of the conservation
work he has carried out over
the decades, along with that
of the late Isabel Morgan,
another inspirational
conservationist.
MARAENUI GREEN
by sallie m dunford
Maraenui Green is part of an original design presentation
that a group of artists made to Napier City Council
back in 2012. A series of eight murals were installed
around the new Maraenui playground, at times an area
unsafe for children. A lot of healing energy was included
in each piece and I realise that my role now, as an artist
spending a lot of time in the Nui for more than a decade,
is more than simply using a paintbrush.
Over three months, myself and other artists and creatives
spent time with a core group of kids, many tamariki
and rangitahi, and police each week, designing this
project with them, and for the community. We worked
creatively with council members and even the skate
park designs started to evolve from that time.
I had the honour to spend time in all the kohanga reos
and kindys and schools in Maraenui to co-create this
piece. I have had a whānau connection there since I was
a child and I feel I weave my mahi subtly, through my
heart space and through art.
Eight panels stood when we completed the project,
representing the elements of earth, air, fire, water and
other powerful messages from our future leaders, our
tamariki. The paua in the piece represents harmony
and also references the iwi of Ngati Kahungnunu; pohutukawa
is the tree of life; and koro and frangipani are
for the two cultures strongly represented in Maraenui,
Māori and Samoan. The Māori kite refers to the heights
teachers can guide tamariki to, to reach the baskets of
knowledge. The flax and woven mat speak to how we
weave together as one, and the natural resources of flax
can be used as tools when cared for by us as kaitiaki. Te
Whāriki is the early childhood curriculum that I have advocated
for, and been inspired by, for my mahi for more
than a decade.
Like Pat, I am passionate about the community of
Maraenui and he has always been in and out of community
spaces that I visit. He always has a smile for me
and a warm word. There’s not much else we need in this
world but to be acknowledged and appreciated and I
feel he does that in a moment.
Above and right: Maraenui Green and Heart; two works by cultural artist, Sallie M Dunford.
Maraenui – by whānau for whānau, anything is possible 101