Community Projects

Check out our latest community projects:

Stitched with Love

Stitched with Love – Squares of Aroha began this year, 2026 with a simple but powerful idea: that our seniors hold skills, knowledge, and stories that deserve to be honoured, shared, and passed on, and that when we create together, we strengthen our whole community. Across Ngāruawāhia, many older people experience loneliness, isolation, and fewer opportunities to take part in affordable, meaningful activities. At the same time, their remarkable abilities knitting, crochet, sewing, teaching, storytelling are too often overlooked. Stitched with Love exists to change that. This project places seniors at the heart of the mahi, recognising them as leaders and teachers while restoring a strong sense of purpose, connection, and belonging.

Each week, seniors gather at NGĀ ART to crochet, knit, and stitch squares together over cups of tea and shared kōrero. These sessions are about much more than making blankets, they are about friendship, laughter, cultural knowledge, and passing on skills that connect generations. Fortnightly intergenerational Community Crochet Nights then bring together tamariki, rangatahi, families, and community members to help assemble the squares into finished blankets, learning directly from our elders along the way. The blankets created through Stitched with Love are gifted to vulnerable tamariki, seniors, whānau, and people experiencing hardship offering not just warmth, but a tangible expression of aroha and collective care. Every stitch carries dignity, kindness, and the knowledge that someone took time to make something with love.

How you can be part of the kaupapa

To keep this project growing, we are inviting crochetors and knitters of all ages to join us – beginners are welcome, and our seniors are wonderful teachers. We are also gratefully accepting donations of wool, which help us turn community generosity into warmth for those who need it most. By supporting Stitched with Love, you are helping us reduce isolation, celebrate our seniors, strengthen intergenerational bonds, and weave a more connected, caring community — one square at a time.

Our Pūrākau: Kaumātua Mural Project

Over six weeks this autumn, a group of Ngāruawāhia kaumātua came together at NGĀ ART to embark on a powerful creative journey. The result: a striking mural now proudly displayed outside Mills Pricecutter — a public expression of kaumātua-led creativity, connection, and cultural pride.

Supported by Creative Communities NZ and guided by artist Monique Heward, participants explored kōwhaiwhai (traditional Māori patterns) and shared their life stories through art. Many were engaging in Toi Māori and mural painting for the first time. Through weekly workshops, storytelling, and shared laughter, confidence bloomed and friendships deepened.

“It was daunting initially… but also an exciting prospect to create mahi for the community.”

More than an artwork, this mural is a living taonga — a gift to Ngāruawāhia. It now sits proudly near Centennial Park and Waipa Primary School, uplifting the environment and sparking reflection on our shared identity.

At NGĀ ART, we believe creativity is a right, not a privilege. This project shows what’s possible when our elders are empowered to share their stories through art. The impact continues to ripple through our community, reminding us that connection, expression, and belonging matter deeply.

Look out for our next community mural before the end of 2025!!!

NGĀRUAWĀHIA: Our Stories

We are delighted to present this captivating film that celebrates some of the rich cultural heritage and diverse narratives of Ngāruawāhia. The film explores the narratives of Ngāruawāhia from a variety of perspectives, highlighting personal experiences, cultural traditions, and the interconnectedness of our community. It showcases the remarkable resilience and creativity of our people, drawing inspiration from the past to shape our future. We do hope this is the start of our collection of stories that we can showcase to the world.

Mills Pricecutter Mural – Youth Project (March/April 2023)

At NGĀ ART we jumped right in to delivering our new youth arts programme led by Ahsin Ahsin.

Term 1’s youth programme has provided our local rangatahi with an opportunity that has introduced them to the art of mural making, including: research, design, and the installation of their very own collaborative mural. Through this practical programme our youth have gained a first-hand understanding of the importance of beatification art projects and the positive flow on effects of murals for towns like Ngaruawahia.

We have 7 youth participating in the making of this mural and one involved in the videography. By exposing students to painting and learning through the arts we are providing an opportunity for youth to express themselves and collaborate with others on team projects in their very own local community.

Check out the video and images below that showcases the experience:

Kotare Mural – Holiday Programme 2019

Our tutor Monique Heward design and delivered this action packed holiday programme in April 2019.

We had 15 tamariki make funky painting aprons out of recycled jeans and decorated them, learning how to recycle clothes, design work and sewing skills.

They finished their beautiful wooden feathers, learning in the process skills in design work, patterning, shading with paint and pen work.

Then they all contributed to the Kotare Mural, learning about painting a large artwork using the skills they learnt in designing and painting the feather. They learnt about working together as a group and undertaking a project which will be of benefit to our community.

The mural was made to be outdoors as a public art piece and will be featured as part of our Matariki celebrations. We are lucky to now have them on public display for you to have your photo taken in the wings of the Kotare (Kingfisher). The Wings are located at the Durham Precinct.

Thank you to our tutor Monique, and helpers Tania, Bernie and June.