That's what a mural created as part of a programme building resilience in youth, means to one of the boys who helped make it.
Treizarn Mahanga, 12, was one of 18 Year 8 boys from Manaia View School who helped create the mural as partof a programme called Ngā Toi Whakamanawaora.
He said he was proud yesterday when the mural, called Te Whare Tapu o Ngapuhi was blessed in front of the rest of the school and whanau.
Manaia View School principal Leanne Otene said while the boys worked on the piece, they talked.
"Through the medium of the art, they're talking about resilience and having those conversations about what's important, dealing with problems, dealing with difficulties, overcoming those difficulties as they merge these boys into young men."
The programme was run by Mike and Linda Tupaea.
One of the programme's students, Arthur Fenton, 12, and programme instructor Mike Tupaea infront of the newly finished mural. Photo/Michael Cunningham
Mr Tupaea said it started in April, and ran for 10 weeks. It started out working with one group of boys, but quickly expanded to two.
The couple visited the school twice a week for a couple of hours each time.
"In this programme our hope was to use Māori art to provoke change or just to inform the boys around the powerful symbols we have in our culture that symbolise resilience."
One of those symbols was the mangōpare, or hammerhead shark, which was incorporated into the final design.
"That particular symbol talks about not giving up."
Mr Tupaea said when cornered, the hammerhead shark fights until its last breathe.
The mural at Manaia View School is a striking view from the school's field. Photo/Michael Cunningham
The diamonds on the mural symbolise the maunga of Ngāpuhi, while the poutama pattern symbolises the quest for knowledge. The boys got to help with the design, the sanding and the painting.
The programme also got One Drop NZ, which designs custom apparel, to show the group the whole process of its business and help the boys to design a hoodie.
Mr Tupaea said by doing that he hoped to "spark something off" that the boys may choose to do in the future.
