Observant travellers on the way into Te Puke from the west may have noticed a colourful addition to the townscape.

A fence in front of Rangiuru Sports Club now has a mural in a style that is becoming familiar around town.

The mural was designed by Kalib Wallace and was created by him and about 30 rangatahi (young people).

Some of them are part of a healthy lifestyles programme he runs through Ngā Kākano Foundation called Te Tuapapa Auaha, others have finished the programme while some tagged along to see what it was all about.

A handful had been involved in previous mural projects.

“They just wanted to paint something – so we said ‘why don’t we paint something that is significant to Te Puke’,” Wallace said.

Before photo of the fence fronting Jellicoe St in front of Rangiuru Sports Club.

That gave them the opportunity to have an input into the mural’s design that recognises the two local iwi, Tapuika and Waitaha, and their significant maunga – Rangiruru and Otawa.

“Just by painting these sorts of murals, we raise that awareness about Te Puke with the to iwi here and the two mountains and also help [rangatahi] connect to the community.”

Toots from motorists on the day the mural was created gave plenty of encouragement, Wallace said, which enhanced the experience for the rangatahi.

“It’s community engagement through creativity and expression.”

The two maunga are sometimes used for training by those on the programme.

The mural is the fourth created by Wallace in Te Puke.

Another is behind the Rangiuru Sports Club and is complemented by the new mural.

There are also murals on The Hub building in Jocelyn St and Ngā Kākano Foundation’s building fronting Commerce Lane.

The new mural was partially funded by Te Puke Community Board. In agreeing to the funding, chairwoman Kassie Ellis said the board’s view is that the mural would add significant value to the western end of the main street coming into Te Puke.

Part way through the creation of the mural.

“But we fundamentally value it because of the iwi and hapū affiliations.

“It’s like an add-on piece to the Ngā Kākano, The Hub and the mural behind Rangiuru [Sports Club].”

Rangiuru Sports Club president Makuini Te Amo agreed that the new mural complements the one behind the club.

“At the end of the day we’d like to move the container [behind the club] and get the other part of the wall done with something that relates back to the club, but it’s all about whakapapa and all about the significant sights within our rohe.”

She said the club was grateful for the assistance of the community board and its support for cleaning up the fence.

“That was the reason why, and they provided the funding to allow us to get Kalib to do this.”

Wallace said any future murals were likely to feature wildlife from the area, including kiwi which are in Ōtanewainuku and kahawai that are present in the Kaituna.