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Creative: Threaded
Project lead: ĀKAU
Taitamariki: Kaikohe East School
Photography: The Treehouse Creative

Project brief

Te Reo Māori on the Streets is a project led by ĀKAU in collaboration with four kura from across Kaikohe. This Kaupapa (project) stemmed from the desire of taitamariki (youth) in Kaikohe to see “Te Reo Māori everywhere!” and for their town to be bright and colourful.

Working through a creative process taitamariki from four local schools explored whakatauki (proverbs) and what these look like through their perspective. These explorations resulted in a series of kupu matua that form the basis of the designs.

Whakatauki - Proverb Inspiration: Te manū e kai i te miro nōna te ngahere. Te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōa te ao. The bird that feeds on the berries owns the forest. The bird that feeds on knowledge owns the world.

Kupu Matua - Words of Significance: Waewae kai kapua - Risktaker Ao - World Rere - Fly Harikoa - Happiness and Joy

Design response

Threaded was invited to collaborate with ĀKAU & a rōpū (group) of taitamariki (youth) from Kaikohe East School for Te Reo Māori on the Streets kaupapa. Working through a creative process with ĀKAU involving papamahi (workshops) on; brief-building, mark-making techniques, abstraction, composition and exploring whakatauki (proverbs) and what these looked like through their perspective, these explorations resulted in a series of kupu matua (key words) which formed the basis of the designs.

The taitamariki brainstormed what they wanted to communitacte and created initial concepts for the artworks. These were then shared with us to exlpore assets, layout, composition, colour and typography within the environment the murals would eventually exist.

Ensuring the voices of taitamariki were captured was central to the kaupapa and was essential to its success. The murals have fundamentally changed the way Kaikohe looks, but also the way taitamariki see their town. Seeing their designs on the sides of buildings gives a sense of ownership and pride – it has changed the way taitamariki interact with and respect their neighbourhood.