Next to the supermarket in Ohakune is a bright mural depicting scenes that make the town unique. Painted by pupils from Ohakune School, the Here and Now mural won the school a place in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Wall Worthy mural competition last year. Principal Blair Dravitski said teacher Janita Purcellworked with 12 pupils to help them transfer their designs on to the panels of the mural. "She worked with two groups of six students at a time to complete the panels and transport them to the site." The annual competition, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, Panasonic and Resene, offers five awards to schools and preschools nationally. Last year, Ohakune and Raetihi schools were the only North Island winners. Mr Dravitski said there were already a lot of murals around the school so the group decided they would like to do something for the town. "I talked to the building owner who is living overseas and he was happy for the work to be mounted there," he said. The school received Resene paint vouchers, drop cloths, stickers and treats, and when the work was completed they received a Panasonic TV and digital camera.
