Art Unveiling

Friday morning: It was a great event - our first powhiri and we received an outstanding art work from the constortium (the group of contractors who built the school). The art work was unveiled by the artist, Jeff Thomson, who was assisted by our two youngest students - Arthur and Ha-Yeon as they unveiled the work. The piece of art, called "Meccano New Zealand", is made of screen printed iron, cut into meccano-shaped pieces, put through a machine, corrugated and then bolted together in the shape of New Zealand. Hundreds of screen prints show New Zealand's native flora and fauna. The screen prints were made from items collected from around New Zealand - some even picked up from the side of the road. It is a magnificent piece, stands about 5m high, and looks perfect on the wall in our entranceway. Please DO come in and check it out. The photos below do not do it justice.

A HUGE thanks to the building consortium for their very generous gift/taonga which we will love and enjoy for many years to come and which, as I said in my speech, will remind me that nothing whole and complete is ever achieved without people connecting with each other.

Thanks to the parents who came to support our children as they took part in (led) their first ever powhiri. Congratulations to: Mycke, Keira and Caitlin (with a "C")  who did the karanga; to Megan and Sam who took karakia for the manuhiri (visitors); to Rosa and Gabriel who recited their mihi; to Yoshiki and Ryan who led the haka; and finally to all the children who sang; and, the boys who bared their chests (well most of them) and did a rousing haka. Tino pai rawa, tamariki ma!

The speeches and then presentations by the students were really appreciated by the contractors as was the delicious morning tea cooked by students with some contributions by parents.

Check out this video of the art work with Jeff Thomson the artist and the photos below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Domj2Df7A

Thanks to all for a lovely morning.

If you have any photos/videos from the event you could share with us, we would appreciate them.