January 2014 — Cafe Ra’s graffiti wall

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JA14_wideTamara and Jason Post purchased Oasis cafe a year ago.

Their aim was to develop it as a community cafe. Rebranding it as Cafe Ra was the first step. Not long afterwards, they were shocked to dins a group of out-of-town kids had tagged Otaki’s Main street. “How pathetic was that?” she said. “Graffiti is an amazing art form, if you ice it a chance” she enthused.

Tamara and Jason were talking over the possibilities of encoring local ‘artists’ to display their talents on the neighbouring wall in Matene St. The adjacent table couldn’t help overhearing, and recommended two teenagers from their youth group.

That’s where Otaki’s Zac Olsthoon and Nathan Kaiewe came in. Otaki College graduates, they have left their signatures on artworks at the skatepark, the Domain, Otaki College and down Otaki Gorge.