Where art meets hoardings; Te Ara Whetū

Community art is helping to transform the hoardings around Te Ara Whetū, the new library hub for Waikanae.

Located in the heart of Mahara Place, the construction site hoardings provide a welcoming canvas for a mix of community artwork and project information. What is often seen as a barrier between the public and the busy activity inside a work site has become an opportunity for locals to connect with Te Ara Whetū well before the doors open.

Before construction began, Council invited local schools and community art groups to help bring colour and creativity to the space. So far, Waikanae School, Ōtaki College, and The Shed Project Kāpiti have all taken part, each contributing their own unique perspective.

Artists were asked to respond to one or more of the following themes:

• Mountains to sea, reflecting Te Ara Whetū’s location near the Waikanae River between the Tararua Range and the Tasman Sea
• The meaning of the name Te Ara Whetū, the passage of the stars from the mountains to the sea
• What a modern library means to them, or what they are most looking forward to in the new space
• The many things that make Kāpiti a great place to live

With the hoardings expected to remain in place for around a year, these temporary artworks have found a fitting home at the centre of Mahara Place, adding colour, storytelling, and a strong sense of community to the site.

More about the artworks

The Shed Project

These art panels are multimedia on plywood painted using Resene paints, and decorated with pottery fish, stars and people made during The Shed Project pottery and art classes.

Waikanae School

Inspired by the meaning of the name ‘Te Ara Whetū’, the school’s Teacher Aide (and artist-in-residence) Heidi Andrews worked with three senior students to create this stunning reflection on the landscape.

Ōtaki College

This Dr Suess style artwork represents three themes: Amongst the Stars, Mountains to the Sea and the Library. It was completed by a small group of students under the direction of local artist and Teacher Aide, Hayley Grace, using large scale panels with Resene paint and posca pens.