Children’s art brightens up Arataki Underpass
14 June 2005
Art created by Auckland students to celebrate the beauty of the Waitakere Ranges will be unveiled at the official
opening of the Arataki Underpass on Saturday 18 June.
The tunnel was built as the best solution to a hazardous road crossing, says Chair of the Auckland Regional Council’s
Parks and Heritage Committee, Sandra Coney.
“Around 12,500 children were crossing Scenic Drive every year to take part in Education Programmes at Arataki. Added to
that, we have around 180,000 visitors to the Arataki Visitor Centre crossing Scenic Drive each year to walk the Nature
Trail. With the 100km/hr speed limit and increasing traffic, crossing the road was risky and it was only a matter of
time before a serious accident or fatality occurred.”
Cr Coney says that although the tunnel is a great way of ensuring the safety of visitors, grey concrete walls were cold
and uninviting.
“The tunnel needed to be brought to life to give visitors a warmer welcome to Arataki,” she says.
Schools were invited to each send two students to a two-day workshop at Arataki to create art for the tunnel. Artist
Penny Howard ran the workshop and internationally renowned Waitakere artist Dean Buchanan visited the students during
the workshop to discuss his art and the inspiration of the Waitakere Ranges for his work.
“The finished art work is a credit to all those involved. The children have created beautiful panels of art that
represent entry into the forest world and celebrate the splendour of the Waitakere Ranges,” says Cr Coney.
The official opening of the underpass this Saturday will be a great opportunity to enjoy the art and celebrate the
Auckland Regional Council working toward making a key destination safer for all visitors. It is also a chance to thank
Resene for supplying the paint for the artwork, and Friends of Arataki and the Titirangi Arts Council for contributing
to the cost of the art signage.
Ends