Learning Your Stripes

The Papatoetoe & District Returned Services Association (RSA) building on the corner of Wallace Road and St George Street is a brightly striped beacon that immediately gets people's attention. The site encompasses the Papatoetoe RSA and Papatoetoe War Memorial Library, as well as Burnside Park, which is home to the building. This public art project was proposed by Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board in 2012, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Papatoetoe becoming a district.

Regan Gentry covered the outside of the building with a series of powder-coated aluminium stripes, in the colours and combinations of military service medal ribbons that were awarded to the men and women who served New Zealand – a metal strip at the bottom is embossed with wording that names the various medals and campaigns. He also created raised gardens, paths and bright red bench seating that surrounds significant trees and the RSA building itself. Gentry redesigned the green space to allow easier access and use by pedestrians and the community. Local community groups were involved during the process, including members of the RSA who advised on the final title, Learning Your Stripes, a reference to earning your stripes.

Learning Your Stripes was the first in a series of Ōtara-Papatoetoe Heritage Trail projects and is one of three artworks in the area.