A mural with real meaning, especially to Wairarapa Maori, now graces a Vodofone box outside Masterton District Council's offices.
Artist Tina Rae Carter was commissioned by the council to beautify the otherwise bland box and did so by incorporating an image of Te Heke Rangatira - the waka taua, or war canoe, which was the centrepiece of a Wairarapa Moana exhibition at Aratoi - along with Huia feathers, totara and clean water images.
According to Masterton District Council the waka Te Heke Rangatira represents the land and the planting of a totara tree represents the community.
This offered a contrast with existing support and preservation of taonga.
Another contrast is the extinction of the Huia bird largely due to ignorance and the Kaka from Pukaha Mt Bruce, an example of caring for native birds.
