Student art brings Homai Station to life Student art brings Homai Station to life
Date: 20 November2025
More than 60 pieces of art from local school students now take pride of place on a new mural at Homai Station.
The mural was unveiled at a community celebration last weekend, marking the completion of the station project to replace its level crossings with safer connections.
The mural stretches alongside the new accessible ramp leading from Browns Road to the station platform, featuring artwork from Homai School, Manurewa High School, Te Kura Akonga o Manurewa, and tactile pieces from students at BLENNZ (Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ). The works reflect the theme of taiao (environment), celebrating the natural beauty of Tāmaki Makaurau, its waterways, birdlife, trees, and insects, and the shared responsibility Aucklanders have to protect it for future generations.
“This mural is a celebration of our city’s movement, connection, and life” says AT’s Acting Co-Director Infrastructure and Place, Jane Small. “It brings colour and creativity to Homai Station while expressing the students' vision for a vibrant, thriving Auckland.
“Placemaking in and around infrastructure has an important place in projects being delivered by Auckland Transport and we thank the students and their teachers for helping us bring the station to life”.
Part of the Auckland Level Crossings Programme, the new accessible ramp was built earlier this year to replace two pedestrian level crossings, providing safer access and easier connection to the station in preparation for more frequent train services when the City Rail Link opens next year.
The mural was developed in collaboration with mana whenua (Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, and Ngāti Whanaunga) and the Manurewa Local Board, following extensive community engagement to ensure the final design of the ramp was inclusive and community driven. BLENNZ played a key role in shaping the ramp’s design to meet the needs of blind and low vision users, helping make the station safer and more accessible for all.
"The Local Board wanted to see a mural that reflects the community's identity and it's a wonderful example of how our young people can help shape the spaces we share" says Manurewa Local Board Chair, Heather Andrew. "The students' work, especially the tactile artwork from BLENZ makes this space not only vibrant but inclusive - something we're proud to see in our community. It's a true collaboration".
BLENNZ student Amy says being part of the project was really rewarding.
“Our aim was to express aspects of New Zealand’s culture. My design was a Pōhutukawa branch and each of us were able to create something from our personal point of view of what New Zealand’s culture means to us.”