EIT’s recently relocated Hastings Learning Centre celebrates inclusion in expressing the best of Hawke’s Bay in art.

Four local artists, based at Awa Ink studio in Hastings, were led by renowned moko artist Tāmanuhiri Russell in creating 13 panels for the Heretaunga Street West centre.

“Our brief was to create something that makes visitors feel welcome and invites locals to take ownership of the space,” Tāmanuhiri said.

The group took photographs of Hawke’s Bay landmarks such as Te Mata Peak, Te Pania, Pekapeka Swamp and Maraetotara Falls, and used digital technology to execute the images in perspex and metal.

“We have chosen to highlight areas that are taonga to our people, to show everyone their beauty,” Tāmanuhiri explained.

“It establishes pepeha [heritage and identity] in portraying maunga [mountain], awa [river], iwi and hapū. The last three we worked on feature waka, whare and tangata.”

The centre previously operated from the Tower Building, on the corner of Railway and Lyndon roads.

EIT purchased the Heretaunga Street West property last year, renovating and refitting it with a flexible open-plan layout that allows for more collaborative learning and an expanding suite of onsite programmes. The centre is also a shopfront for wider inquiries about EIT’s 148 programmes.

As at the ‘former’ centre, retail, community and horticulture programmes are being offered, the latter in association with community groups operating existing gardens.

Barista training, Māori and colonisation are offered as short courses as firsts for the centre and a level 2 te reo Māori programme will run in the second semester.

EIT is donating furniture surplus to the new centre to Pacific Island communities.