Reverend Iakopo Fa'afuata, Pietsch Leiser, Peleti Oli, Amataga Iuli, Sieni Fa'afuata, Hinemaria Onesi, Sandra Hazlehurst, Elijah Ioane and Brandon Blair at the blessing. Photo / Supplied
Reverend Iakopo Fa'afuata, Pietsch Leiser, Peleti Oli, Amataga Iuli, Sieni Fa'afuata, Hinemaria Onesi, Sandra Hazlehurst, Elijah Ioane and Brandon Blair at the blessing. Photo / Supplied
About 80 people gathered last Wednesday to bless and unveil a new Pasifika-themed mural at the Hastings War Memorial Library.
Painted by Brandon Blair of Crimson Flower Ltd the new mural is on the eastern wall of the building and depicts the journey of the early Pasifika ancestors to Aotearoa.
There are also design elements which represent the many different cultures of the Pacific.
The mural came about through Arts Inc Heretaunga's culture canvas initiative which is also behind three other murals that have appeared in the city the past year.
Arts Inc Heretaunga's Pietsch Leiser said the aim was to celebrate diversity and "bring Pacific culture to the forefront in the middle of town".
When the idea first came about he contacted Hastings councillor Peleti Oli, who helped connect him to the district's Pasifika Student Leadership Group.
The group then came up with some design concepts which Brandon Blair brought to life.
Student Leadership Group member Elijah Ioane said the designs came from a wide range of Pacific countries such as Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Papua New Guinea.
The mural depicts the journey of the early Pasifika ancestors to Aotearoa. Photo / Paul Taylor
"After we gave them to Brandon we were surprised to see how close the final design was to what we had supplied, and it was amazing to see the process of stencilling and painting the mural on the wall."
The mural not only tells the story of the journey to Aotearoa but also shows the past on the left hand side and the present/future on the right.
At the blessing Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was a privilege and honour to unveil the artwork, and she thanked all those involved in bringing it to life.
"It signifies what the Pacific means to us in Hastings – we are proud of our Pacific community and what they contribute to make Hastings a great place to live."
The mural was made possible with support from: Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival, Arts Inc. Heretaunga, Hawke's Bay Foundation, Lotteries Communities, Resene Paints Hastings and Hastings District Council.
