The 'Whakaako Kia Whakaora / Educate to Liberate' mural project was born from the ongoing engagement of Emory Douglas (former Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party) with Māori and Pacific communities in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The project was conceived by Chris McBride and Tigilau Ness while attending the 50^th Anniversary of The Black Panthers in Oakland in 2016. It is fitting that the mural will be completed as part of the Auckland Arts Festival 2021 and to coincide with the 50^th anniversary year of the Polynesian Panthers.

Funding to complete Stage I, the mural design, and an arts/educational website, was awarded as part of the Covid-19 arts response by Creative New Zealand in 2020. The Mural design was completed and the website – panthers.liberationlibrary.nz – was completed in November and launched in November 2020.

Panthers Mural, Karangahape Rd – production March/April

This public art project has the potential to become an iconic mural of national and international significance. The mural will occupy a site on a highly visible, prominent location on the corner of Karangahape Road and Gundry Street, Auckland.