24 August 2018

The iconic VAANA Peace Mural on the corner of Ponsonby and Karangahape Roads will be back up for all to see next week.

“I want to reassure Aucklanders that the VAANA Peace Mural has not been permanently removed,” Mayor Phil Goff says.

The mural was originally painted by the Visual Artists Against Nuclear Armaments on the southeast side of the Watercare Reservoir on the corner of Ponsonby and Karangahape Roads in 1985, at the height of the country’s proud nuclear-free movement.

“The mural was officially gifted to the city by the 22 participating artists in 2009 and I am pleased to say that the council will be continuing to look after this taonga for the people of Auckland.

“The VAANA Peace Mural is much loved and has iconic status in Auckland. It recognises the leadership role of New Zealand in protesting nuclear testing and weapons of mass destruction.

“We recognise the importance of the mural and its place in our history. Council protects the mural on an ongoing basis and following some restoration work that was required after the storms earlier this year, it will be proudly back on display next week.”

The mural was reproduced on vinyl in 2006 and reprinted in 2014. The council’s Public Art collection team are now reprinting and replace the material component of the mural every five to six years.

Following storm damage earlier this year, repair work was expected to have been completed by Tuesday afternoon. However, this was delayed by rain and it is now expected to be reinstalled early next week.

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