Etuate Tuanaki from Flaxmere uses his carving skills to transform coconut shells into polished kava bowls. Born in Tonga, Etu is a Year 13 student at St John’s College.

Thirty senior secondary students explored their Pacific heritage in art over the term break, carving coconut shell, collaborating on a mural and writing and recording an original piece of music.

The group were taking part in a Fresh Horizons programme of workshops offered by the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust at EIT’s ideaschool.

Over three days, the Year 11-13 students were guided by artists Chris Charteris, Lizzy Leckie, Amiria Puia-Taylor and Anonymouz as they carved coconut shell into objects and body adornment, responded to local social issues in painting a transportable mural and created a “soundscape” inspired by Pacific music.

In Year 11 at St John’s College, Seliano Vakapuna uses shells, twine and coconut shell to make rosary beads destined for a prayer table at his family’s home in Flaxmere.

A non-profit organisation established in the 1980s, Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust is funded by Creative New Zealand and ASB Community Arts Trust to mentor and support contemporary Pacific art and artists.

Tautai Fresh Horizons Pacific Arts Workshops have been hosted on the EIT campus for the last four years, attracting 115 Hawke’s Bay students interested in expressing their Pacific heritage in art.

This year’s workshops were coordinated by Auckland-based artist A.D Shierning (Tautai) and Maryanne Marsters (EIT) and the students were drawn from Hastings Girls’ High School, St John’s College, Taikura Rudolf Steiner School, Hastings Boys’ High School, Napier Girls’ High School, Napier Boys’ High School, Sacred Heart College, Williams Colenso College, St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College and Taradale High School.

Teremoana Heather models a necklace featuring paua “leaves” and carved coconut shell. A Year 11 student at St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College, Teremoana wants to be a wildlife biologist but enjoys art.

Participating schools will have the opportunity to showcase the mural at their school.