Over 2200 handprints make up community mural

Over 2200 handprints helped make up Tokoroa’s newest masterpiece yesterday launching latest edition to Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s 2010 calendar, Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week.

A positive, vibrant and NZ First project, Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 runs from 24th April to 1st of May 2010 and is a nationwide celebration of what communities across New Zealand are doing to ensure their communities become and remain free of graffiti vandalism.

The theme for Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is “Your Community is a Reflection of you” and to celebrate their graffiti free status, Tokoroa’s community spirit, culture, and bright future has been reflected in a community mural with a difference. The mural was commissioned by Keep New Zealand Beautiful as part of the new initiatives official launch yesterday.

The mural was been outlined by award winning urban artist Janine Williams (aka Lady Diva) and from 9am yesterday, the community came in droves to be part of the mural, colouring it in with their handprints in the party atmosphere at Tokoroa’s corner of Leith and Swanston Streets.

“We chose Tokoroa for this year’s launch to celebrate the South Waikato District’s Graffiti Free status. We feel it’s a huge achievement and something to be truly proud of, and deserves to be showcased to the rest of the country!” says Keep New Zealand Beautiful National Programmes Manager, Mary Brown.

South Waikato District Council has been running a successful graffiti free initiative in conjunction with the local community for two years now.

Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week will also see the collaboration and promotion of educational resources, strategies and toolkits which have been developed by communities, industry, government and councils made available on KNZB’s website; on an ongoing basis as reference material for anyone wanting to find ideas on tackling a problem and positively encouraging pride in their own patch.

“Rather than re-inventing the wheel, Keep New Zealand Beautiful knows that it's 'different strokes for different folks' when it comes to tackling graffiti vandalism, so to that end are putting on show everyone’s efforts in the hope that it gives communities who are lacking ideas some positive and effective solutions for their community says Brown.”

In addition to the focus on education, Keep New Zealand Beautiful will be contributing to a series of vibrant and exciting Paint New Zealand Beautiful activities in each KNZB Zone (Upper North Island, Central North Island, Lower North Island).

Paint New Zealand Beautiful Week 2010 is proudly supported by Ministry of Justice, Resene Paints and Kiwi Rail.