Porirua’s children are the creative energy behind friendly new illustrated signs that will bring families and young people down to Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.
Using children’s thoughts, ideas, and artwork to create the signs put two of the council’s strategic priorities into practice – to put children at the heart of the city through engaging them in key decisions and projects and protecting our harbour and catchment.
The idea to create new signage was inspired when the restored dune and wetland area at the harbour was unveiled in August 2017.
“Creating signage for this new area was an opportunity for young people to do the interpretation,” said Porirua City’s Senior Advisor Partnerships Wendy Barry.
“When our tamariki create something using their own words and their artistic expression, people are more likely to stop and read it and it brings their families down to the harbour.
“We were pleased that Greater Wellington Regional Council supported what we wanted to achieve. They are responsible for all areas below the high tide mark, so it’s important they were on board with our vision to put children at the centre of the signage creation.”
Pātaka Education Officer Esmé Dawson led the design process. She expanded on work she helped students produce for The Current – a journal of student’s art and writing about Te Awarua-o-Porirua published by Porirua Harbour Trust.
She guided the children to decide which key messages they wanted people to learn and think about, and then to narrow down imagery and words the signs should include. They had a key role in all decisions made.
“These signs are accessible to everyone, and are a fun and engaging way to educate people about our Harbour and how we interact with it,” said Wendy.
20 Feb 2019
