Amiria Puia-Taylor and Bobby MacDonald created this mural to thank the community after staying in Mangonui during the lockdown. Photo / Jenny Ling
What began with a one-off mural created for the Mangonui community in the Far North has sparked a nationwide campaign with a kaupapa based on giving.
Artists Bobby MacDonald and Amiria Puia-Taylor recently completed the huge mural of a great white shark to say "thanks for having us" after hunkeringdown in the small seaside town during the Covid-19 lockdown.
It turns out the mural was a drop in the ocean compared to what the pair have planned for Northland – and the rest of the country.
They created the Mangonui artwork after deciding to head North for the nationwide lockdown to stay with Puia-Taylor's aunty.
The whole community got on board the project following weeks of concept development and consultation with residents, business owners and local iwi.
Daniel Thompson, the owner of Mangonui Waterfront Apartments, helped create a social media page to get the community to vote for their favourite of three designs.
Budding local artist Miriama Soutar and her brother Luke also worked on the project which was painted on the wall of Wiltons Garage & Marine over Queen's Birthday weekend and the two days that followed.
Puia-Taylor said they were all touched by the positive feedback and generosity of passers-by.
Many people gave donations while walking past, and they managed to raise $250 which went straight back into buying paint and brushes.
"What we've seen through this project is so many different people from this community wanting to put their hands up saying they want to help out," she said.
"They were all drawn to it. They couldn't get over how, in a time like this, we could do this for free."