Loburn School - Te Kura Aromauka principal Stuart Priddy said the colourful mural was a collaboration, with everyone at the school contributing to the project.
“They solicited ideas and themes from all the classes and teachers, talked with Off the Wall – Murals NZ artist Mel Eaton, who then created draft plans for the design.”
He says the group sought to depict as much as they could of their community from a student’s perspective.
"They included in the native birds the classes are named after, the four rivers used in the school’s houses, and the fruit which used to be grown in the orchards around us.
"Then Mel put it all together and created the lovely mural we have here now.”
One of the last parts of the mural was inviting all the pupils to put their hand prints on the birds of their classrooms.
“Even the pre-school next door came over and added their hand prints to the mural,” said Priddy.
Eaton said sitting at the heart of the school, the mural tells the story of Loburn School and what makes it unique.
"The chestnut tree represents growth and connection, with school values and learner attributes woven through the roots and branches.
"Every student contributed a hand print to their class bird, making this mural genuinely theirs.
"Even the basket of fruit gives a nod to the area’s orchard history and the surrounding landscape that still produces fruit today.
"A student committee helped shape the ideas and direction of the mural, and I hope they feel proud seeing their stories and ideas brought together at this scale."
"She worked on her own for two weeks creating the mural, and it was amazing watching her when, during breaks, the children would come and sit around her asking her questions and talking to her.
"It was great to have a local artist create this visual history of our school."
