On 24 January, we had the privilege of launching the Churton Park story in Wellington. Del Costello travelled to Churton Park to mark this special occasion alongside Principal Matt Stanley and the dedicated teachers of the school. It was a stunning day, made even more meaningful by the backdrop of Mount Tarikākā, the guardian of the area and the protagonist of the story.
Del Costello describes the day,
“It was so fabulous to see the teacher's engagement in their story. They could genuinely see themselves and their students in the story, and ways that they could integrate. Teachers left with excitement with great ideas about the ways they can tailor to the curriculum.”
This story was a collaborative effort, incorporating gifted sections from the local iwi, Ngāti Toa, and references to Te Ātiawa, recognising those who walked the land before. It was an incredible opportunity to honour the rich history and diverse community of Churton Park.
We were fortunate to work with the talented Preehya Patel and our Telling Your Stories head illustrator, Kate Costello. Preehya, a local artist, played a key role in shaping the story’s visuals. She also completed the stunning mural featured on one of the school’s external walls, which appears in the final image of the story. A highlight of this project was seeing how engaged the Churton Park community is, especially the students, who collaborated with Preehya to paint the mural.
The images created for the Churton Park story were designed to tell a narrative of their own, tracing the land’s history long before it was inhabited.
“The artwork mirrors the colours of the Churton Park logo while embracing the school’s modern and vibrant identity. Textures in the illustrations were carefully crafted to reflect the feel of Preehya’s mural, further deepening the connection between the story and the school’s environment.” Says our Illustrator, Kate.
A key focus of this project was ensuring accessibility and engagement. Teachers who attended the launch were excited to explore the possibilities the story could offer their students. The resources were designed for seamless integration into classroom learning, making it easier for educators to bring the story to life. Our writer, Steve Saville, loved crafting this narrative,
“When I started writing this story it quickly became very apparent how much the school felt connected to their environment and geography and that, even though this was a relatively new suburb and school, this connection was very real and very strong.”
Describes our writer, Steve. “I wanted to capture this in the writing. I wanted to produce something that respected the work the school had done in establishing community but also acknowledge that the whenua had a rich and long whakapapa. For me Mount Tarikākā brought all of this together; her watchful, protective eye was the link that united the past with the present and the people with the land. In the writing process I became very fond of her.”
This was also a milestone project for Telling Your Stories, as it became the first to be translated into Chinese Mandarin by our skilled translator, Patrick Ong. Additionally, it was translated into Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, ensuring the story could be enjoyed by as many tamariki and whānau as possible. With such a diverse community at Churton Park, it was essential to create a story that was truly inclusive and accessible.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to bringing the Churton Park story to life. We are incredibly proud of this collaboration and look forward to seeing the story continue to inspire students, teachers, and families for years to come.
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