Rotorua woman Vendela Patrick's art for Christchurch raises $10k

Vendela Patrick wearing the print she designed after the Christchurch shootings. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua artist Vendela Patrick painted her feelings about the Christchurch attack on paper in the hope it would raise $1000 for victims.

The powerful image shows a Māori wāhine with headdress and moko kauae, kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) with a young woman wearing a burqa, with both figures extending from a hand, has struck a chord with those who have seen it.

It has touched people around the globe and far surpassed the initial amount Patrick hoped to raise.

"As soon as I heard about the attack I knew I wanted to do something," Patrick said.

"I put a lot of thought and a lot of love into the painting and then used my social media accounts to bring attention to the auction."

Patrick said the wāhine was not painted to portray a certain race but to show New Zealand as "one people", while the Muslim woman symbolised the Muslim community.

"For me it was a way of combining our two cultures through art."

The painting sold and the money was donated, but then the orders started coming in.

"People were asking if they could buy a print, or if I could put the image on a T-shirt," Patrick said.

"To say I've been busy is an understatement. I've been packaging and posting with a few moments of sleep in between."

To date, $10,000 has been raised from the venture and donated to Christchurch victims through the Victim Support Givealittle page.

Patrick's printed T-shirts are being sold in Australia as well as New Zealand, including a significant number to people who took part in a mass haka in Perth today.

"I have to admit the response from the public has been a shock. But it is awesome and I am so proud to be able to say I'm a New Zealander.

"While I understand the money raised will not give back what has been taken away from the victims, it feels good to be able to do something."

Patrick said she hadn't given a lot of thought to what would happen next.

"I know I'll continue with my art and it'll be exciting to see where that takes me. This journey has been absolutely incredible so far, busy but incredible."