Edition #15

dec 2015/Jan 2016

Free!

275

times

275 times

Our stories, our people, our Māngere

Kōrero paki ō tatou, Tāngata ō tatou, Ngā Hau Māngere ō tatou

Mängere farewells Jonah

“We express sincere condolences on

Jonah’s sudden passing, to the Lomu

Kainga and the Tongan Community.

Rest in Peace, Jonah. Fa’afetai tele

for your phenomenal contribution,

here and afar, and all you did, for

Mangere, for South Auckland, for New

Zealand. Manuia lou Malaga, sincerely

from Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board

Members and our Community.”

- Lydia Sosene, Local Board

chair

"Prayers and thoughts are with

Jonah's family, especially to his

wife and boys. Jonah changed the

game of rugby. He paved a pathway,

especially for us Polynesians. I am

grateful and very lucky to be playing

because of the work that he has done.

He will always be remembered."

- Ofa Tu'ungafasi, vice-captain

for the Auckland NPC team.

RIP JONAH LOMU 1975-2015

"You were a hero to many of our

young people in Mangere and then

you become a hero to everybody

across the globe. You came from

humble beginnings to become a

humble human being. May God's

korowai of comfort and support be

with you and your family during this

time."

- Alf Filipaina, Auckland

Councillor, Manukau ward

"Before Jonah became a global superstar,

he was and still is a son of Tonga,

a son of the Pacific, and a proud son

of the Southside. We are all so proud

of him. When he ran, we ran with him.

When he crashed through tackles, we

crashed through with him and when

he scored, we scored with him. He

lifted our spirits high and inspired

so many. Rest peacefully brother. Ia

manuia lau Malaga."

- Su'a William Sio, local MP for

Mangere

PRINCIPAL LEAVES LASTING LEGACY

John Heyes will retire as

Principal of Māngere College,

proud in the knowledge he

has left it in good shape for his

successor.

As the second longest serving

Principal of Mangere College in

it's 44-year history he’s seen it all.

Whether the school has been

instilling scholastic skills,

sharpening sports performance

or fostering the next X-Factor

superstar, he’s always aimed

to create a family environment

which supports the students as

much as possible.

He says the improved academic

performance of the school and

developing a rich cultural and

sporting life are achievements he'll

fondly remember.

“I’m very proud what we have done

in those 13 years.

“I’m particularly proud that as a

flow-on from the MC family culture

there is a recognition of all the

extra-curricular activities of the kids

and at times you wish you could

pull a magic wand out of your boots

and ensure they’re not coming from

troubled homes.

(cont. p.2)

---

2

PRINCIPAL LEAVES LASTING LEGACY cont...

...“But as teachers we have the

privilege of working with teenagers

and so there is always a sense of

hope of a better tomorrow.”

Mr Heyes began his career as an

English teacher, with a speciality

in medieval English literature, at

Auckland Grammar School were he

worked alongside the likes of Graham

Henry and John Graham.

He says the desire to challenge

himself saw him head to Otahuhu

College where he rose to become

Deputy Principal.

"In 2003 the job of Principal came up

at Mangere College and so I crossed

the train tracks and came over here."

He says the farewells and student

tributes at his leaving ceremony have

been very touching but he hasn’t

allowed himself to much time for

sentimentality as he’s been busy

preparing things for his replacement

Tom Webb, who’s coming from

Onehunga High School.

"For any new Principal coming in you

probably need about a term to get a

feel for the place. So that’s why we’ve

got term one as neatly sewn up as is

possible so Tom can just come in and

go with the flow.

"It’s never a perfect time for a

Principal to go and another to come in

and so you always weigh up when the

best time is but I think I've got it pretty

much right."

Cultural bonanza at Bader Intermediate

SONG AND DANCE: Bader Intermediate students performed a range of cultural songs and dances to a packed crowd of family, friends

and community members last month. The event showcased a range of cultures; including Tongan, Maori and Korean performances as

well as original music written and performed by the very talented students.

Watch out - introducing our newest contributor

Ke Ola, Ki Na Lelei O Te

Matuaya everyone, my name is

Ernestina Bonsu Maro.

I am Cook Island, African, 20 years of

age and a fresh Pacific face added to

the area of journalism, with a twist

of sport, music festivals, culture,

people, art and fashion. My passion

for success has always been driven

by family (whanau) ,happiness and

uniqueness of one's character of

talents throughout our communities.

I've just finished my last semester

of my Bachelor of Communications

degree. I would say it has been

challenging in terms of testing how

far we as individuals can push us

ourselves, which is a huge blessing,

NITTY GRITTY

Words: Justin Latif Design: Jo Latif

Publisher: ME Family Services

275times@gmail.com | www.275times.com

www.facebook.com/275times

and it has given me the confidence

and courage to be part of awesome

opportunities such as student media,

facetv, representing my nation of the

Cook Islands for netball at the Pacific

Games, writing for epic events, as

well as attending and exploring and

SPLICE, which is a group filled with

uniquely talented girls producing

positive content /stories about our

Pacific women succeeding. My goal as

a female Pacific / African leader is to

share, write and showcase more of our

unique talented Pacific people in our

small communities thriving on success

as well as helping. I would like to thank

for Jo and Justin for accepting me

into their family of the 275 Times as

a contributor for the magazine. It has

always been a goal to share the stories

of our people from our talented,

unique community of Mangere, to

help shine light in our neighbourhoods

and make a positive difference for our

community now and in the future.

Tawaiwolo (thanks),

Ernestina bonsu maro

Contact: Tuhin Choudhury

---

1. Visit the Mangere Markets, every

Saturday morning, Mangere Town Centre.

Best buys: Fresh fruits, raro donuts, pork buns

and "Fuelavelave" books on sale!

4. Drop a fishing line at the

Old Mangere Bridge, and spin

a yarn or two about the one that

got away.

2. Buy a bag full of the delicious

Raro donuts from the Pukapuka

Community Centre, 24 Canning

Crescent. That extra oily fat goes

straight to your hips - how else do you

shake that bon bon?

5. Grab a real fruit

strawberry ice

cream from the

famous (and ever

busy) Strawberry Farm,

127 Kirkbride Road.

3. Swim and slide at the

Moana-nui-a-kiwa Mangere

pools, 14 Waddon Place.

The outdoor pools open 13

December and close late

evenings.

6. Climb the Mangere Mountain,

take in the view of the Auckland

isthmus and the expanse that is

South Auckland.

3

7. Visit the 13 Days of

Christmas performances, at

Puaseisei EFKS Church, 36

Winthrop Way, Mangere East,

by Samoan youth groups, from

11 December till Christmas Eve.

9. Watch a couple of games

of Kilikiti at Aorere Park, Raglan

Street, as village teams take on

each other in the way more

entertaining Pacific version of cricket.

11. Bite into a warm puligi

or steamed pudding from the

Tongan Bakery, 74 Vine Street.

Best eaten with layers of custard

poured over.

13. Head to Ambury

Regional Park, 43 Ambury Road.

Visit the farm animals, play a

game of touch, or even fly a kite.

15

Things to do

in Mangere

This Summer

12. Visit the Auckland Airport, usually in

van loads, as the whole family sees off that

one cousin returning to the islands.

14. When visiting

family for Sunday toonai/feast,

buy a plate of yummy Chinese

food, or finger licking crispy chicken

nibbles from Great Tong, 6 Savill

Drive or Lims, 371 Massey Road.

Malo lava le soifua maua!

My name is Apulu Reece

Autagavaia - I was born and bred

in Mangere, currently serve on the

CMDHB and have been asked to

share my list of the top 15 things to

do in Mangere this summer!

(His children are pictured right).

8. Head to the Otuataua

Stonefields, 56 Ihumatao Quarry

Road, an internationally significant

heritage landscape and an

important natural, archaeological

and historic area. Get there before

the developers do!

10. Follow the Mangere

Methodist Church Manuao

(Christmas Choir), on the night of

Christmas Eve, as they travel in the

bus loads, all decked out in white,

singing Christmas carols all across

Auckland.

15. Grab your chinese mat, pack a

picnic and head to Mangere Bridge Kiwi

Esplanade. Find a spot under the Pohutakawa

trees and have a summer snooze.

---

4

Inorganics

What do we do with it?

1. You will get a letter in the mail from

the Auckland Council about Inorganics

between January and April 2016

(Mangere/Otahuhu).

2. Book your inorganic pickup online or

ring the Auckland Council.

Go to: aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or

call 09 301 0101

4. On pick up day, put items on your

property (around 1 cubic metre), near the

driveway or entry. Unlock gates and tie up

dogs. If unsure about where to put it ring

09 3010101

3. The Auckland Council will tell you by

email, text or phone what day they will

pick up items from your property.

1 m

1 m

DO THROW OUT:

Large appliances (fridges, ovens etc)

Furniture (beds, chairs, kitchen items etc)

Sporting (gym equipment, bikes, toys)

Renovation (tools, baths, sinks etc)

Outdoors (lawnmower, BBQs, furniture)

Electronics (TVs, computers, phones etc)

Small Appliances (vacuum cleaners, irons)

DO NOT THROW OUT:

Bags of rubbish

Recyclable Packaging

Garden Waste

Automotive (tyres and parts)

Building and trade waste (plaster, concrete, bricks)

Chemical Liquids (OIl, petrol, paint)

Hazardous Waste (Broken glass, poison, batteries)

Asbestos

Gas Cylinders (CNG & LPG containers)

proudly

sponsored

by:

---

DJ spins new track

Beauty

Services

BUILDING

AND

CARPENTRY

Recreation

& Sport

Forces

Pre-Entry

Welding +

Panel beating

Don’t

just dream it.

Warehousing

& Forklift

Operations

BECOME IT!

5

FRESH START: DOUG TE MONI (FAR RIGHT) WITH HIS QES CLASS.

Youth looking to make

a fresh start on their

NCEA credits should hit

up Big D - aka Doug Te

Moni - of Mai FM fame.

The long-time DJ, is also a

youth educator and has

designed the new Youth

in Action NCEA Level 1

programme which he

teaches at Quality Education

Services' Mangere campus

on Mahunga Drive.

The programme was

launched in October and is

well on the way to helping

South Auckland teenagers

get their education journey

back on track.

Doug says the course

doesn’t just focus on

academic success though,

but ensures the students

leave with valuable life skills.

"These guys have left

school with no credits or

qualifications and most

of them don’t have all the

communication skills they

need to navigate life,” he

says. “So our course is not

only about getting their

credits but also about

equipping them with all the

skills to succeed in life.”

This means the students

spend one day a week in

the community doing things

like volunteering in a soup

kitchen or helping promote a

community event.

Doug says his background

in radio broadcasting means

he can connect students'

passions for music and film

with core education skills.

“We get them doing

something they love

like a music project but

underpinning that is all

these numeracy and literacy

skills that they need in the

real world.”

“And we also get guest

speakers in like DJ Sir-vere,

who’s an icon in NZ Hip Hop.

"The students really respect

and connect with someone

like that, but he’ll also be

affirming that message of

getting qualified and getting

your key numeracy and

literacy skills.”

If you or someone

you know are keen

to do this course

contact QES on

0800-004-226.

Business

Admin and

Computing

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

Retail

PAPAKURA

(09) 296-0511

If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever

you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr.

---

6

Christmas Message from your Māngere MP

Su’a William

SIO

MP for Māngere

Mangere Electorate Office

Unit 19 Mangere Town Centre, Waddon

Place, Mangere

(09) 275 5345 Email: sua.william.sio@

parliament.govt.nz

Facebook.com/suawilliamsio

I take this opportunity to wish all our families in Mangere a safe and peaceful Christmas and holiday season.

I acknowledge the many challenges our families have had to face and acknowledge how courageous you have been in

supporting your families and loved ones during a difficult and challenging year for our community. I will continue to

advocate and commit my support to you and our community in whatever way I can.

As we head towards the celebrations of the Christmas holiday season, I want to just share with you a gentle reminder to

be kind to one another, especially to the women and children in our lives.

I am aware that today’s statistics paint an awful picture of New Zealand as having the highest rate of domestic violence

in the developed world. And our community is not immune to this global tragedy. Often the financial and economic

pressures faced by our families during the holiday season can trigger violence and abuse in our homes. Let us support

one another during this season.

As a proud Samoan, who values my culture, my language, my faith, and heritage, I say to all our Pacific brothers, and men

of faith – culture and faith is not an excuse for our violent and abusive behavior towards the women and children in our

lives. Anyone who believes their culture or religion gives them this right is wrong. To believe in it, is to believe in a lie,

and you perpetuate an injustice to society.

Samoans say our culture is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Let us then remember that of faith, hope and

charity, that the greatest of these is charity. Charity encompasses our love for our wives, our brotherly or sisterly love for

others, and a God-like love for those only a mother can love. Let us remember that “Charity suffereth long, and is kind;

charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth

all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Surely these are the values that should form the foundations of our

cultures!

If our collective vision is to have our children and grandchildren grow up in a society that is violent free, then we must

each begin from our homes. All of us men must strive to rid all forms of violence from our homes by our actions and

words. Our homes and our families, after all, are the fundamental foundations of our society. When our families and

homes are strong, safe and vibrant, our communities and country will also be strong, safe and vibrant.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Have a safe and happy holiday season. All the best in the coming New Year. Let us work together for strong, safe

and vibrant families.

Authorised by Su’a William Sio,

Parliament Buildings, Wellington

labour.org.nz | suawilliamsio.co.nz | Wellington +64 4 817 9870 Māngere +64 9 275 5345 | sua.william.sio@parliament.govt.nz

Authorised by Su’a William Sio, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

---

Our journey with waste: Kotiri Kindergarten

7

By Justine Skilling

“It all started with a worm

farm and a composting

course”, says Kotiri

Kindergarten teacher

Farzana Shahid.

The course was “an eye opener”

for the Mangere East kindergarten,

motivating them to look at what else

they could do to help Papatuanuku

(the land).

With a new compost bin in

operation, collecting the lunch

scraps became a competition

amongst the children and staff,

who watched closely to see

whether it would outperform the

old worm farm. The children were

given leadership of the process

and have become composting

experts, although they still open

the worm farm, throw the scraps in

and run away squealing, according

to Farzana. Grass clippings,

paper towels from the bathroom,

shredded paper and fallen leaves,

once waste items at the kindy,

started being collected to create

beautiful compost for the gardens

as well. The first batch of compost

has just been spread on the

garden ready for summer planting,

and children and staff alike were

amazed at what they’d produced.

Youth crew raising up a party

The Raise Up Crew, a youth leadership group, based at

Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Pool & Leisure Centre have organised an

awesome Summer Pool Party Extravaganza for December

18, 4pm -7pm.

The team have been working hard for the last few months

organising this event and it's set to include live entertainment, a

bombing comp, face painting, bouncy castles, games, spot prizes

& more. For more information about the Raise Up Crew and their

Summer Pool Party search "Raise Up Mangere" on Facebook.com

“Knowledge, science and worms”

are all part of the learning here.

Sorting rubbish was next on the

agenda. Farzana sourced colourcoded

containers for the lunch

tables and kindy teachers did lots of

mat-time activities to help children

learn which bins to put things in.

“Knowledge,

science and worms”

are all part of the

learning here.

All this sorting has greatly reduced

their landfill waste. Their biggest

bin is now the paper bin that they

pass on to Paper for Trees, an

organisation that supports schools

and preschools to collect paper

and cardboard and swaps this for

free native trees. The kindy’s next

challenge is to get whanau involved

in reducing waste as well.

"It’s all

about caring for Papatuanuku and

thinking about the effect we are

having on our next generation."

EDITORIAL:

Season's greeting to you all. The holiday

season always brings with it so much

hope and excitement. Lazy hazy days

in the sun, catching up with family and

friends over good food and drink and

the chance to reassess your goals for

the year ahead are all reasons to enjoy

this festive period. But as we also know,

this time of year is also an opportunity

to remember another hope - that of

Jesus Christ, who's birth we celebrate

on December 25. Whatever your faith

tradition, or religious belief, we hope

you can take time to reflect on the life

and example set by this extraordinary

man, who did great things (by all

accounts), gave us amazing teachings

(which still inspire so many) and made

fantastic claims about what the future

could be. At 275 Times, we genuinely

believe he wasn't a liar or a fool as some

may say but in fact the Son of God

as he claimed and it's His Words and

deeds which inspire and motivate us to

produce this newsletter for you all. I trust

you enjoy it and see you next year.

Blessings, Justin and Jo Latif

---

Community Notices

Mangere BikeFIT club

We will be still running the program over the Christmas break at the

community house. The club provides bikes and helmets and have

our club rides every Fridays 5pm to 8pm also run a Bike fitness class

every morning Mon to Sat 6am to 8am.

COMMUNITY ARTS EVENT

An open meeting to talk about potential projects as part of the new

arts broker service will be held on December 5, 10.30am, Mangere

East Community Centre. All are welcome to attend and bring along

any existing or future arts project ideas to discuss.

Reading adventures BEGIN

You’re invited to the Dare to Explore and Kia Māia te Whai launch

party! Come celebrate with us at the launch of Dare to Explore/ Kia

Māia te Whai, Auckland Libraries’ Summer Reading Adventure at

Ōtāhuhu Tōia Recreation Precinct, 30 Mason Ave, Ōtāhuhu

When: Sunday 6 December 2015, 11.30am – 2.00pm

Christmas to our youth

We look at Christmas and what it means to the NZ youth of today.

Kirihimete o te Rangatahi, Mangere Arts Centre, December 10-13,

7:30pm – 8:30pm.

Out and About Amazing Race

David Lange Park, Bader Drive, January 13, 10:00am – 12:00pm.

Want to get to know you local park better? Come and join the Out

and About team and give our Amazing Race a go! Choose one of the

two course options overcome the challenges and see who finishes

first! Great fun for all ages and stages!

Christmas is about

to hit Centre Park

Classifieds

Home Grown Education. We are a passionate

home based childcare & education service.

Contact: Casey Smith | casey@homegrowned.

co.nz | 021 2476975 | www.homegrowned.co.nz

Diakonic Design. Handmade bibs and baby

bedding. Contact: Tasha Prendergast | 021 109

7227 | diakonicdesign@gmail.com | facebook.

com/Diakonic-Design

Manea Tattoos - Polynesian Tattoos

Contact: Joseph Vaeau. Phone: 021 236 4261

Totally Toha. Handmade, nature inspired

beauty products.

Lip balm, moisturiser, insect repellant, soap.

Contact: garden.pest37@gmail.com |

0211868130

Iri Morunga. Gardening mentoring.

Set's up food gardens in people's homes,

guiding them along the process. Contact:

irimorunga@yahoo.com | 022 164 0617

Wanna make your Facebook page sing?

Call Mez Aue on 021 190 0668 for social media

consultantcy, communications and marketing

services.

8

Mon 21 December- 10am onwards

Christmas in Centre Park is set to be bigger and even

better than last years inaugural knock-out event.

So make sure you and your tamariki head to the Centre Park

on December 21, from 10am. The action-packed day will

include a range of music and cultural performances, food

stalls, train rides, Ki-O-Rahi competitions plus much more. The

super awesome organising committee are made up of Delaney

Papua, Wilz Puiri, Gloria Finau (pictured) and Caroline Paepae.

They say despite some challenges they are fully confident this

year will be another successful and family friendly event.