Artist, Andrew MacLeod, a former Paekākāriki resident, has generously gifted his retrospective painting ‘The Locals’ to the Paekākāriki Station Museum.

 The painting is based on a photograph taken by some passing Japanese businessmen back in 1962. It depicts the gaggle of kids who had been hanging out around outside Porter’s milk bar [now the Deli] in Paekākāriki.

 The setting is outside Aspel’s pub, with the rail line and Paekākāriki hill as a backdrop. Those depicted include the Harvey boys, whose parents ran the local taxi. Tony Hooper who played in several bands including The Heartbreakers, and The Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band, and Noel Crombie percussionist and designer with Split Enz. Along with many others and the artist himself.

Another contemporary, although not featured in the painting, is Lindsay Field, who performed with Tony Hooper and went on to a musical career in Australia as a member of the John Farnham band and much more.

 Paekākāriki has a history of producing artists in many disciplines. Some of the people depicted in this painting confirm that music is one of them, painting another.