Teens take graffiti art to the wall

Photo: NEIL DUDDY

WRITING'S ON THE WALL: Five of the nine Clendon teenagers who took part in a graffiti art programme run by the Maori Women’s Welfare League. From left: Chase Kokiri, Clyde Kokiri, Ambrose Mataio, Tailah Kokiri and Denny Tanu.

Nine Clendon teenagers armed with spraycans have bombed the Clendon Community House fence.

But these teens have been decorating - not defacing - the fence as part of a programme run by the Maori Women's Welfare League aimed at keeping young people out of gangs.

Their artwork had only been up a week before it was tagged which riled the artists - some of them ex-taggers.

Co-ordinator Georgina Cooper says the programme is funded by the Social Development Ministry with the aim of deterring gang involvement and getting the youngsters on the straight and narrow.

Some were referred to the programme by police and some were approached by the league, she says.

"But this young team all have a strong interest in art."

The teenagers were guided by graffiti artist Joshua Paki who specialises in "helping youth who've been in strife", she says.

"Josh used to be involved in negative graffiti but made changes, went to Elim School of Arts and now has an art career," Ms Cooper says.

The students spent two days in the classroom studying graffiti art history and culture then had three days to paint their portion of
the wall, Ms Cooper says.

"All the students had fantastic attendance because it's doing what they want to do."

Manukau mayor Len Brown visited and was impressed with their work, she says.

"These guys are very talented - they just haven't had the support." The programme's been so successful, the league plans to run it again.

"Next school holidays we plan to do the wall opposite," she says.

Denny Tanu sprayed a portrait of a lady intertwined with Maori patterns and says it's driven him to pursue a career in graffiti art.

Mr Paki was a "real mean" teacher and mentor, he says.

"He was cool as."

He's not happy about the tagging on his artwork - "I don't like it at all" - and says while he's never tagged, it's given him a good reason not to.

Youth worker Mereana Te Pere says the programme's been valuable for the teens.

"They didn't just learn how to use a spraycan - they learnt about history and culture.

"Even having their own work defaced was a good lesson for them about tagging," she says.

"They've created a piece that the community can appreciate.

"And if there was a place in New Zealand that would appreciate graffiti art the most it would be south Auckland."

- © Fairfax NZ News