The haiku poetry competition is a highlight of the Arawa to Hetana Street Laneway community mural project, designed to bring Matamata's unique stories to the CBD. Our Pride of Place team, working with local business owner Sonya whose store lines the laneway, received over 200 haiku poems about Matamata. These five-seven-five syllable poems competed for a spot on the laneway wall, with six winning haiku to be painted in both English and te reo Māori, using white on a black background.

Funded by Transport Choices, this initiative aims to draw locals and visitors to use the laneway and promote Matamata’s walkability. The project not only celebrates local creativity but also enhances the area's charm and accessibility.

Looking ahead, there are further opportunities to improve the laneway, making it an even more welcoming and attractive space. If you're passionate about this area, the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. welcomes your proposals for collaboration to continue transforming this CBD laneway.