Our Mural : Te Oranga

The story behind our mural …

‘TE ORANGA’

In 2010 Morrinsville School staff and children decided to enter the Resene New Zealand Masterpiece Competition.  Students were selected from across both the Junior and Senior classes with approximately 25 children participating in the design and painting of the mural.

Collectively we decided upon a theme that the children felt reflected who we are as Morrinsville School – te Kura o Morenawhira.   The children then worked on images that they thought tied in with our overall idea.  We wanted our mural to reflect our local environment and chose native birds, insects, trees and koru designs along with academic, sporting and cultural images we used to represent our school.

The children worked incredibly hard, even giving up their school holidays along with their teacher, Mrs Melissa Pilkinton-Brodie to create this mural which went on to form the beautiful back drop at the Piako Cultural Festival which has been and will again be held at Morrinsville School – te Kura o Morenawhira.

Upon completion of the mural, its theme attracted the attention of local iwi and whanau. Kaumatua, Te Ao Marama Maaka and Ken Wetere were invited to bless the mural.  Ken Wetere gave the mural the name, ‘Te Oranga’ which means “total well being or health”.  The kaumatua spoke to each part of the mural recognising the connections that it made to whom we are as Morrinsville School – te Kura o Morenawhira.