Nelson school unveil their award-winning environmental mural

Nelson Central School, winners of Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s (KNZB) Resene Wall Worthy competition 2019, are excited to unveil their completed award-winning mural.

Their mural, titled ‘From Little Things, Big Things Grow’, has been painted on the school’s boundary fence and illustrates the overarching message that attitudes and actions, whether big or small, will have an impact on the environment. Through the illustration the viewer is taken on a journey from a seed that flourishes and grows through the environment in various forms, stretching outwards from the community and the school, out to the world, the solar system and the stars.

Teacher Lynley Walters said that the creating process was led by the students, who were asked to draw a picture that represents their idea of Nelson Central School’s motto: “Flourishing in learning, flourishing in our world – Kia matomato te tipu i te ao”. A parent/local artist took the children’s ideas and created an illustration that represents their collective thoughts. She says, “It was a great way to involve different aspects of our community and to give the children ownership over such an impacting piece of art.”

The Resene Wall Worthy competition, which is part of the Paint New Zealand Beautiful programme ran from January to April 2019, with early childhood centres, schools and community groups encouraged to submit mural designs which included an environmental message. Submissions were received from all over New Zealand and the top 15 murals were selected based on their environmental message, enhancement of the local area, and originality/creativity. The public were then asked to vote to decide on the winning 10 entries. The winning designs receive a $750 Resene paint voucher and other materials to paint their mural as well as a GoPro camera on completion of their mural.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful CEO, Heather Saunderson, said: “Research shows us that there is a marked reduction in tagging when murals, reflective of the local community, are used to replace graffiti vandalised walls. The Wall Worthy Competition is a great way to not only enhance our urban environment, but to also bring our local communities together and create a strong sense of pride.”

The other Resene Wall Worthy winners and regions are listed below, with their designs visible on the Keep New Zealand Beautiful website.

• Moanataiari School – Thames
• Matahui School – Tauranga
• Wainui Beach School – Gisborne
• Norfolk Primary School – New Plymouth
• Te Mahia School – Wairoa
• Hillcrest High School, Hamilton
• Inglewood High School – New Plymouth
• Taradale Primary – Napier
• Otago Childcare Centre – Dunedin

Nelson Central School’s award winning mural ‘From Little Things, Big Things Grow’.