Mitre 10 has been running the Takahe Art Competition for the past 5 years open to all primary schools in New Zealand with a trip to visit the Takahe Breeding Unit in Te Anau as a first prize. However, after finding out more about the school at Ronald McDonald House in Auckland, Mitre 10 decided to ensure that this school could also become part of the Takahe Rescue Art competition with prizes tailored to suit its students.
 

Children and their families stay at Ronald McDonald House because they need to be in Auckland and away from their homes in other parts of the country so they can receive potentially life saving specialist treatment. Ronald McDonald House tries to provide a comfortable home away from home for these families and school facilities so children can continue their learning.
 

According to Paula Arblaster, Brand and Strategy manager for Mitre 10, “Being able to bring the competition to the Ronald McDonald House children was especially rewarding. The kids enjoyed learning about Takahe and the challenges of conservation of a native bird in their class-work; the resulting artworks were really colorful and creative”


Charlie Cole from Whakatane won the competition with an outstanding piece of Takahe art. Charlie was just finishing a 6-week treatment and was delighted to receive a Sony Handycam as the winning prize.
 

“For these families a trip to Te Anau isn’t as straightforward so the Sony Handycam allows them another means for having fun and expressing their imaginations” explained Paula.