‘Mana restored’ to vandalised school
Mana has been restored at a primary school hit by vandals who left a huge swastika of tyres on the field and stole its Ma¯ ori flag.
Yesterday, New Plymouth’s Moturoa School was presented with a sculpture symbolising peace, aroha and restoration.
The artwork - a 1.4-metre in height green tiki made from steel was unwrapped in front of about 115 oohing and aahing students, and a couple of teary-eyed teachers.
The gift comes seven months after vandals caused thousands of dollars of damage at the primary school.
While significant destruction was caused to school property, the most disturbing part of the attack was the swastika symbol and the theft of the school’s Tino Rangatiratanga flag while the New Zealand national flag was left flying, principal Delwyn Riding said at the time.
Artist Albie McCarthy, of Tainui, Nga¯ ti Tu¯ wharetoa and Nga¯ ti Haua¯ descent, had read about the vandalism and felt compelled to help the school ‘‘restore its mana’’.
He referenced the Ma¯ ori legend where Mounga Taranaki moves from the centre of the North Island to the west coast to restore peace between feuding mountains.
From the central North Island, McCarthy viewed the tiki as following Mounga Taranaki’s journey of peace.
He said the vandalism was unnecessary
‘‘It was annoying to see something like that had happened,’’ he said.
‘‘The people involved must have been desperate.’’
The sculpture, titled Te Wai Ora Puna Te Rangimarie, is one piece in a series of work McCarthy had crafted.
He said it took about three weeks to complete and was blessed at a spring in New Plymouth, at Koru Pa and Tapuae Marine Reserve before it was handed over to the school.
Teacher Rachel Ammundsen said the school felt overwhelmed by McCarthy’s gift.
‘‘It was just such an incredible gesture that someone who had nothing to do with school and who doesn’t know us would be so affected by the hurt that was caused.’’
It would sit in the school’s office, she said. ‘‘As soon as you come in the front door it will be the first thing you see.’’
Following on from the vandalism, Ammundsen said the school had bounced back.
‘‘We just keep on.
‘‘Our school motto is ‘Together We Grow’ and that stands for gratitude, resilience, orderliness and wonder and so we’re focussing on being resilient.’’