Q: Why did the elephant paint himself different colours?
A: So that he could hide in the M&M packet without being seen.
(Above): Boxes of M&M’s which have been distributed as a national product promotion campaign by leading New Zealand paint manufacturer Resene Paints. (Those readers not familiar with M&M will know the name ‘Smarties’)
Having been associated with paint manufacture in South Africa, I find it gratifying to see how much Resene does for the education of the kids, quite obviously future paint consumers.
Deena Coster of the Taranaki Daily News wrote:
A little school that could has won first prize in a national mural competition. Stratford's tiny Huiakama School, which has a roll of only 12 students, has won the central North Island category in a competition organised by the Keep New Zealand Beautiful campaign. Principal Gwenda Pease said everyone at the school was absolutely delighted with the achievement.
"It's been a perfect end to our year really," she said.
The inspiration for their first ever "Wall Worthy" entry came from the late May Harrison, a former teacher at the school.
"Mrs Harrison was a wonderful, inspirational woman who gave so much to Huiakama School and community, that we wanted to do something in loving memory of her as she is no longer with us," said Ms Pease.
The students, aged from 5 to 12 years old, wrote poems about Mrs Harrison which inspired the several mural designs they submitted as their competition entry. Following on from this success, two permanent murals will be installed at the school during term 1 of next year. The children will be assisted with the painting by Wellington-based art teacher Barbara Spencer, who helped with the original plans. Ms Pease said the school also won an electronic whiteboard, headphones for each student, $750 worth of Resene paint and 210 packets of M&M lollies.
Stratford's view of Mount Taranaki (facing west), with Fanthams Peak to the left of the main peak. Stratford is a service town for the many dairy farms of Taranaki.
Stratford is at the junction of State Highway 3 and State Highway 43. On SH3 New Plymouth is 39 km north, Inglewood 21 km north, Eltham 11 km south and Hawera 30 km south.
On SH43 Taumarunui is 146 km to the east. This road is known as "The Forgotten World Highway", due the scarcity of settlement along the road in contrast to its earlier history. A sign reads "No Petrol for 140 km".
