The standard of the Keirunga Art Exhibition has lifted this year despite the community group suffering significant fire damage to their Havelock North complex last year.
More than 50 firefighters battled a blaze in Keirunga Gardens last August but Keirunga Artists president Richard Moorhead said the quality of artwork since produced had not faltered.
"It's wonderful to see the positive way the artists have responded to this exhibition when we've been working under difficult circumstances. We're having to use other buildings and deal with other groups."
The president said Roy Dunningham had spent hours selecting 80 paintings, out of a total 120 submitted, for the annual exhibition yesterday.
"He was very impressed with the standard. He did a selection for us three years ago and he couldn't believe the improvement in the work. He was very excited about the standard this year so that's really good."