A celebration of 125 years of European settlement, this mural was dedicated by New Zealand’s Governor General, Dame Silvia Cartwright.

The original idea was for the mural to be painted on site in Lions Lane as a millennium project. Technical difficulties and health problems for the artist caused a change in plan and it was eventually created on seven panels at her home then completed on site.

This detailed mural honours 18 people, from the 1870s to the present day, who have made an outstanding contribution to Katikati – New Zealand’s unique Irish settlement. Photographs and information were supplied by families involved and many descendants were present at the dedication. An explanatory booklet was also produced.

The artist paid great attention to historic detail for the background as well as achieving remarkable likenesses to well known local characters.