Rotorua wall gets Anti-bully makeover

Bully Free Bro's Harley Hoani was one a of group of volunteers who painted a wall in the Pukuatua St alleyway next to Ronnies Cafe on Saturday. Photo/Stephen Parker

Be the solution, not the pollution - that's the message adorning what was an ugly, concrete wall in central Rotorua.

About a dozen volunteers painted the colourful message on a frequently-tagged wall in the Pukuatua St alleyway next to Ronnies Cafe on Saturday, as part of an initiative to help spruce up Rotorua's inner city and get rid of unwanted tagging.

Supported by the Rotorua District Council and Keep Rotorua Beautiful, local Bully Free Bro ambassadors spent three hours transforming the wall.

Bully Free Bro co-ordinator Warren Tumarae said it was fantastic to see so many support what they were doing, with members of the Floor Finesse Forever dance crew turning out to help. About 100 members of the public also turned out to watch throughout the day.

Mr Tumarae said the mural was something positive for the community and sent a valuable message to passers-by.

"I think it not only sends an environmental message, but it can also apply to so many other things, bullying, family violence and so on," he said.

"Be the solution, not the pollution, that's similar to, 'Don't be the bully, be the bro'. You can relate it to almost anything."

Mr Tumarae said he hoped the message would stick in people's minds.

"If people see it, then maybe their behaviour might change. It's nothing but positive for our city."

He hoped volunteers would continue to be involved with similar projects in the future.

District councillor Karen Hunt said she was pleased the Bully Free Bro community had come on board to help paint over an unsightly tagged wall with an inspiring message.

"Quotes that the community can identify with on a personal level have the most impact," she said.

The "Be the solution, not the pollution" catchphrase was coined by Rotokawa Primary School teacher Brigitte Holmes, which gained traction when one of her students, Storm Peita, used it as inspiration for his clean-up efforts which won him last year's Keep Rotorua Beautiful Environmental Award for primary school students.