30/08/2026
π A Colourful Journey Home for a Piece of Katikati's History π
If you've driven past the Katikati A&P Society grounds recently, you may have noticed something bright and beautiful welcoming you into town!
A few weeks back, on 26 July 2026, eight colourful artworks were carefully relocated and installed along our SH2 boundary, creating a vibrant entrance to the northern gateway of Katikati. πβ¨
These aren't just artworks. They tell a story.
Back in 1998, 620 children from Katikati Primary School worked together to design and create these striking poles, representing the 32 cultural heritages that made up the school's diverse community at the time. What an incredible legacy! β€οΈ
When the artworks needed a new home after being relocated from beside the Western Bay Museum, the Katikati A&P Society was proud to step in and offer space on our grounds. Better still, this project became an example of community organisations supporting one another, exactly as it should be. π€
The best part?
The relocation cost our community nothing.
This project was made possible through the generosity of local businesses and volunteers who donated their time, skills, equipment, and effort to ensure these important artworks could continue to be enjoyed for years to come.
π A huge thank you to:
πΉ Fencing Worx, Darryn Maguire, Vaughn Price and Lochie Downes
πΉ Max Pickering
πΉ Logan Ward
πΉ Scott Downes
πΉ Mike Dunn
πΉ Louellen Davies
πΉ Lynne Smith
πΉ Phil Christopherson
πΉ Don Wallis
A special note: Darryn Maguire's company originally installed these artworks beside the museum years ago, making this a wonderful full-circle moment. π
These colourful poles now stand proudly as a reminder of our town's diversity, creativity, and community spirit. They are more than artwork. They represent what can be achieved when people work together for the good of Katikati.
πΈ Next time you drive by, take a look and appreciate the story behind them.
π¬ Were you one of the students involved in creating these artworks, or do you remember the original installation? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments!
Please share this post so more people can learn about this fantastic community project and the people who made it happen. π