The University of Otago's first mural on campus went through several ''tweaks'' before being approved, but is now looking ''pretty impressive'', the director of Maori development says.
''From our perspective, [the artist] couldn't have done it better,'' director Tuari Potiki said.
The office of Maori development worked extensively with Montreal artist Fluke to design the mural, which depicts a hongi and was commissioned by the university and the Otago University Students' Association.
OUSA events manager Dan Hendra said street art ''relates well to students''.
And after the success of a mural the association commissioned last year from a local artist, Mr Hendra said, the university was keen to get involved.
It contributed the bulk of the project's budget - $13,000 out of $17,500 - which made it possible for an artist to come from overseas this time around, Mr Hendra said.
Fluke said there was a lot of ''back and forth'' on the mural concept.
He made a point to arrive in New Zealand a week before the start of the project ''to make sure that everything's well-represented''.
