275 Times. June 2015

EDITION #9
JUNE 2015
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celebrating Māngere through sharing its stories
māngere mum shares her story of success
Uni lecturer Paula Nuku knows
exactly what it takes to be a success
at Te Wananga o Aotearoa. That’s
because she’s gone from student to
teacher in her time at the Mangerebased
education provider.
Born and raised in Mangere, Paula
says getting qualifications was
something her family put a lot of
emphasis on.
“Coming from a family of six,
education was important to us.”
Paula studied computing for two
years with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
before going on to complete a threeyear
Bachelor of Education degree
at the Mangere Campus on Canning
Crescent.
Being a mum gave her the
determination to push through
those hard times as a struggling
student.
“You have to be the role model, so
if you say education is a priority
for them, you need to make it your
priority too.”
TE WANANGA TEACHER: Paula Nuku
Out of the 16 Graduates from the Te
Wānanga o Aotearoa, Bachelor of
Education class, 15 of them are now
working in Education and Paula is one
of them.
Paula is passionate about helping
others achieve their goals and
teaching in the same department
where she began her learning
experience is an added bonus.
“I enjoy working with our people,
it’s about taking them from here
to there and giving them direction
and purpose.”
And it’s obvious seeing Paula
working with the Youth Guarantee
Multimedia Class that she can walk
the talk too.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has
graduated over 300,000 graduates
across New Zealand in the past
30 years. If you're interested
in studying, visit the Mangere
campus, 15 Canning Crescent
weekdays from 9am – 4:30 pm for
more information.
Enrolments are now being taken
for semester B classes starting
in July 2015 or visit the website
www.twoa.ac.nz
Whats
inside:
p2
p3
p4
New
housing
Markets
feature
Notices
BUDGET BASICS: PRICES ACROSS MANGERE
Pak'n'Save
mangere
$3.09 Milk 2L
$0.95 Bread
$4.59 Nappies
18 pack
town centre
countdown
$3.19 Milk 2L
$1.00 Bread
$5.49 Nappies
14 Pack
mangere east
countdown
$3.19 Milk 2L
$1.00 Bread
$5.49 Nappies
14 Pack
Foodworld in
town centre
$2.99 Milk 2L
$1.20 Bread
$3.99 Nappies
10 Pack
fresh choice
mangere brdg
$3.59 Milk 2L
$1.00 Bread
$5.49 Nappies
14 Pack
*Our readers have asked where are some of the cheaper places to buy your shopping essentials. So we undertook an
indiscriminate survey of prices at five randomly chosen supermarkets on May 25. Please make your own comparisons
to your local dairy or service station. These prices are subject to change and in no way indicate what is very the lowest
price in Mangere for a particular item. Nappies are for a 8-9kg baby. We welcome feedback on our Facebook page.
TE WANANGA O AOTEAROA - SEMESTER B - JUNE/JULY - ENROL NOW!
18th June | 10:00 - 2:30 | 15 Canning Crescent,
Mangere - 275
OPEN DAY
0800 355 553 / www.twoa.ac.nz

2
Faith and fellowship at heart of new village
Lay Pastor Moi Kaufononga of the Lotofale’ia Congregation in Mangere
What started as one man’s dream
has become a place of beauty and
hope for a whole community. The
Matanikolo Housing development
is the brainchild of Lay Pastor
Moi Kaufononga of the Lotofale’ia
Congregation in Mangere. The
property at the end of Hall Road
in Mangere has been turned
from a large community garden
into a modern-day village of 22
houses, with more still to come. Mr
Kaufononga says there are two basic
needs all humans have - one is for
food, and the second is for a roof over
their heads. The gardens used to fulfill
that first basic need, but now, thanks
to a $4 million Government subsidy
and some wise investment from the
church, the Matanikolo development
has meant 22 families will have their
own quality home at a very affordable
rental rate. Mr Kaufononga's dream is
driven by the desire to see people live
and learn together.
“When you work together, learn
together, and eat together – that’s
when you experience Jesus. Jesus
is here in Matanikolo when we are
together, loving one another.”
The development was named
Matanikolo by the Tongan King’s
brother Prince Fatafehi which means
gateway in English as it represents
the beginning to a new life that so
many families will experience in this
urban village nestled in a quiet corner
of Mangere. This development has
also received support from local
police, Auckland Council and the
Methodist Church’s LIfewise social
workers to ensure the families living
in the development get any necessary
support and protection they need
so the community can flourish as a
whole. Mr Kaufononga says it’s taken
a lot of hard work and faith to get to
this point, but there's still a further
eight to ten units for the elderly, an
apartment block and a community
hall to be built in the coming years.
Samoa House set to wow Māngere
and a three storey building. It’s all
about going with the flow. We opened
our consulate on K Rd in the late 60s
to be near where most Samoans lived,
so now that most are in the south it
makes sense for us to move.”
Mr Pogi says the new building will
be completed by early 2016 and its
construction will cut his own commute
into the city dramatically as the Consul
General’s residence is in Favona.
Samoan Consul General Faolotoi Reupena Pogi
Not sure what’s going on at the corner
of Bader Drive and Mascot Ave?
Well here’s the low-down: it’s going
to be the new home of the Samoan
Consulate.
Samoan Consul General Faolotoi
Reupena Pogi says the multi-million
NITTY GRITTY
Words: Justin Latif Design: Jo Latif
Publisher: Mangere East Family Service Centre
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dollar project will make the consulate’s
services more accessible for the
majority Samoans who generally live
in South and West Auckland and it
will also add something special to the
community of Mangere.
“The site will include a fale, a Marae,
Print
Your printing house
022 1612 927
(09) 2575887
www.minzltd.co.nz
info@minzltd.co.nz
Massey Road, Mangere
Samoan Consul General Faolotoi Reupena Pogi
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Sustainability network
continues to blossom
Umu: Food from the garden was cooked traditionally and enjoyed!
The Mangere Otahuhu
Sustainability Network goes
from strength to strength
and another successful hui
just goes to prove it. Around
70 locals, many of whom are
neighbours of the Old School
Reserve Teaching Gardens in
Kirkbride Rd, which hosted
the event (with support
from Mangere East Family
Service Centre) attended
the event on a beautiful
autumn morning on the first
of May. This gathering also
attracted a number of schools
and children from the area.
Garden co-ordinator Yvonne
Thomas opened the hui
with a talk on the history
of this amazing community
resource before participants
took part in tours,
workshops and community
notices. The event was
rounded out with a delicious
umu.
More gatherings are coming,
so email Justine@mefsc.org.
nz to go on the database,
or check out the Mangere
Otahuhu Backyard Project
page at www.facebook.com/
wastechamps.
Katoteu, kafa and kahoa
Beauty
Services
BUILDING
AND
CARPENTRY
Welding +
Panel beating
Recreation
& Sport
Business
Admin and
Computing
Forces
Pre-Entry
Don’t
just dream it.
Warehousing
& Forklift
Operations
BECOME IT!
Retail
3
Crafty family: From left, Taufa Vaka'uta, Taeao Vaka'uta and Akosita Takai
The Mangere Markets is home
to not just an amazing range
of fruit and veges, but also the
place to go for all your Pacific
cultural needs. Akosita Takai
and her family run one of the
many stalls selling Tongan
necklaces and baskets every
Saturday morning. Despite
the competition, they do a
roaring trade in baskets or
“katoteu”, traditional belts or
“sisi” and “kafa” and necklaces
or “kahoa”. Akosita says it
can take a day to make the
baskets, whereas she can
make up to four necklaces in
a day. Flanked by her sister
and niece, the Mangere
resident says selling in the
markets can be a fun way
to spend a Saturday. “We
want to have fun, and help
to promote Tongan culture –
and hopefully we are one of
the best in the market.”
ZERO FEES &
TRAVEL SUBSIDY
FOR 16-19YRS
FREE SELECTED
PROGRAMMES FOR
20+ YEAR OLDS
HANDS ON
TRAINING
Conditions apply
MANGERE
(09) 257-5732
KELSTON
(09) 818-1257
PAPAKURA
(09) 296-0511
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Community Notices
Fitness Expo
“Let’s Get Moving Mangere” is a healthy lifestyles expo being held
at the Mangere Town Centre from 9am -2pm, June 27 to promote
ways to stay healthy. It’s going to be an action-packed day of
Zumba, salsa dancing, boxfit and yoga demonstrations plus
heaps of helpful info on how to get fit and stay that way. If you’re
interested in being a stall holder email: 275times@gmail.com
Talent Quest
Te Puea Memorial Marae is hosting the "Inter-marae Challenge"
at 10am, June 6, Miro Rd, Mangere Bridge. Includes food stalls/
bric a brac/corporate stalls. Contact: Johnboi Nepia Kukutai
02102348215 or tepueamemorialmarae@gmail.com
Study Information and tours
MIT is hosting a range of information sessions over June for
Semester 2. These will cover a range of areas including carpentry,
creative arts and automotive studies. Sessions run through June
so go to manukau.ac.nz or email: experience@manukau.ac.nz
Workshops for new migrants
The Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS) is holding a
series of workshops in Mangere to help new Pacific migrants.
Please tell those you know who are new to New Zealand. They
are; a Job Search Workshop, 9.15am June 19, Mangere Town
Centre Library, Bader Drive, NZ Legal System and Legal Rights
and Responsibilities in NZ, 9.30am June 9, Mangere Community
Law Centre, Tenancy and Home Ownership, 9.30am June 16,
Mangere Community Link, ,NZ’s Education and Health Systems,
9.30am June 30, Mangere Community Law Centre.
South Auckland Comedy Jam
Comedian Guy Williams (from Jono and Ben) has wrangled up a
few of his comedy mates for a night of hilarity at the Mangere arts
centre. June 5, call 0800 BUY TIX for tickets.
Innovation injection sessions
InnovateChange is holding a series of brainstorming sessions in
Mangere. By participating you’ll get a $30 shopping voucher. Call
378 7642 or email hello@innovatechange.co.nz - for more info.
'Re-new' - Mangere Baptist Church Op Shop
Hours are 11am - 4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.