Art for everyone on the town’s streets

Electrical transformer boxes are a necessary urban feature but there’s no reason they have to stay council-issue grey. Local artist, Sasha Maya, continues to bring art to the streets by painting over our electricity transformers, while telling the story of Paerata Rise.

The region’s sporting legacy is well represented, with a transformer featuring Jonah’s number 11 jersey on Jonah Lomu Drive. The theme continues with other transformers featuring a large silver fern and players in a rugby game, in tribute to the mighty All Black talent the area has nurtured. Wesley College gets a nod with a fabulous depiction of the iconic chapel and school motto set against the backdrop of Puhitahi Hill.

Other vibrant works portray the Ross Brother’s Fresh Milk Supply business, honouring the history of dairy farming in the area. Keep an eye out for transformers adorned with native birdlife and foliage such as manuka blossoms.

Maya is inspired by sharing stories and building connections between people on the land. If this artwork tells any story, it is that Paerata Rise is a flourishing community with rich history to be celebrated and shared.