What was once the ugliest wall in Whangarei is now the pride and joy of a community. The long-heralded painting of a mural along the Bunnings fence on Smeaton Dr has been completed after a string of weather-related cancellations. Mangakahia graffiti artist Kairau Bradley sketched out the artwork last week, and morethan 300 people - mostly youngsters - took part in a marathon paint job that saw the mural filled in piece by piece on Saturday and Sunday. Kim Anderson, a driving force behind getting the "Smeaton's mural" on the wall, described the huge public project as "awesome, just a really wonderful thing". "I don't think people want it to end, it's been such a lovely weekend," she said. "This has massive benefits, the whole community owns it now. It's just blown us away, the support we've had." Smeaton Dr now had "natural speed bumps," Ms Anderson said. "Everyone who drives past slows down to look at it." The artist will visit from time to time to carry out any repairs needed. As well, local people will have paint and brushes to carry out any emergency work needed. The mural symbolises the past, present and future of the Smeaton Drive Community Association and reflects five core values adopted from Manaia View School - honesty, trust, love, support and respect. It also depicts a a sunset, hills and a waka pointing to the arrival of Maori. Until the mural could be painted, the fence had been kept graffiti-free by Raumanga residents. Late last year it was painted in a community action day spearheaded by the Northern Advocate and the Smeaton Drive Community Association.
