Mural brightens platform

A South Auckland train station is looking better than ever thanks to a local school.

The colourful mural painted on the passenger shelter at Te Mahia station in Manurewa was designed and created by Manurewa Intermediate School pupils.

It was funded by the Manurewa Local Board and overseen by the Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust in partnership with Auckland Transport, Kiwi- Rail and the

Corrections.

‘‘We love to see youth accomplish great things and gain positive recognition for their sense of pride and responsibility toward their environment,’’ trust relationship manager Barbara Carney says.

Disability advocate and local board candidate in the upcoming Auckland Council elections Ezekiel Robson collected 1500 signatures for a petition as part of a campaign to keep the station Department of open in 2013 after it was threatened with closure.

He says its recent patronage figures are positive according to data on Transportblog.co.nz.

The number of people boarding trains at the station in the past 12 months has increased by 6125, Robson says.

Local board chairwoman Angela Dalton says the commitment to a ‘‘beautiful Manurewa through partnerships and friendships is exactly what strengthens us as a community’’.

From left, Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust staff Lincoln Jefferson and Barbara Carney with Ezekiel Robson in front of the station’s new mural.