Te Tōpūnga Hapori i Daly Street is home to some vibrant accessible picnic tables that brighten up the space thanks to a creative collaboration between local artist Tina Rae Carter and art students from Hutt Valley High School.
The three tables—titled Duck Duck Down, Freaky Flowers, and Cultural Cloth—each tell a different story, brought to life through bold colour, local references, and creativity from local rangatahi. The students came together for workshops with Tina to develop the designs before spending a week in March 2025 painting the tables onsite.
Tina says the students were “a dream team, a joy to work with,” noting their strong camaraderie and shared passion for art. “Despite tight timeframes, they poured heart and soul into their designs—and we finished just before the rain hit!”
The students reflected enthusiastically on the experience. For many, the best part was the painting itself and the chance to be creative with friends. One student, Kingston, appreciated “how peaceful it was painting with my friends,” while Scarlett thought the end result was nice and she was proud to be a part of it.
Asked if there were any challenges working on the project, several students shared how tricky it was to paint clean lines on a tricky surface, as well as working around the weather – but all said the result was well worth it. One summed it up - “the final result was spectacular… I was flabbergasted. I would even say in love with it.”
Duck Duck Down draws inspiration from the nearby Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River, incorporating endemic and native species in a river pattern to form a native fauna tablecloth, sparking recognition and connection to the Awa.
Freaky Flowers offered students a playful chance to express themselves through designing a whimsical bloom that reflected their personality.
Cultural Cloth, evolved into a multi-layered visual tapestry created by the Te Tōpūnga Hapori i Daly Street project team, an opportunity to represent their diverse identities.
You can sit, relax and enjoy these vibrant new picnic tables at Te Tōpūnga Hapori i Daly Street. As well as displaying the stunning artwork from Tina and the students the tables have been specially designed to accommodate several wheelchairs sitting around them.
Photo: Tina Rae Carter and the picnic tables.