275 Times. February 2016

Edition #16
february 2016
Free!
275 times
275
times
Our stories, our people, our Māngere
Kōrero paki ō tatou, Tāngata ō tatou, Ngā Hau Māngere ō tatou
FAITH FUELS FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
Faith, family and a famous brother
teachers a hard time I got to a point where I realised
have all played a role in Ema
I did want something more in life.”
After high school Ema did an admin course at a
Piutau’s rise to her prestigious
training organisation and was able to get a job
role as a Public Defence lawyer
in the Department of Corrections. Despite not
at the Manukau District Court.
having the relevant qualifications she was
The ex-Mangere College student might
able to work her way up from office girl to a
have left high school with only the bare
probation officer and she was even helping
minimum required to enter university,
with prosecutions before she completed her
but a desire to make a difference has
law degree. Her time working for Corrections
seen her secure a coveted job and set
made her realise so many people weren’t
herself up for a successful career in the
getting justice and it inspired her to return to
criminal justice system.
university in her late 20s to become a lawyer.
Ema says she’s probably the last person
She says working with criminals might be
you would expect to have made it in
daunting for some, but for her it’s like a
the high-flying world of lawyers and
calling.
judges.
“It’s really rewarding knowing you’re making
“So often people who knew me
a difference. I may lose a case, but you can
at high school are surprised to
still have a positive influence on someone
see me as a lawyer but even
through getting them to shift the way
though I did hang out with
they think and perceive life.”
the wrong crowd and gave
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...
Inorganics is back
It’s been a while since we had an
inorganic rubbish collection in
Mangere/Otahuhu, but one is on its
way! The Auckland Council rates-funded
annual collection is starting up again
from mid-February 2016, but there are
going to be some big changes. Residents
will receive a flyer from Council three
weeks before their collection. The
flyer will ask you to contact the Council
(either online or by phone) to book your
collection. But if you don’t book, your
stuff won’t be picked up. Once your
booking has been made, you’ll be given
a collection date. On collection day,
you’ll need to put your inorganic rubbish
(old furniture, appliances, outdoor
equipment, electronics and renovation
items) inside your property, not on the
verge. If you don’t have space, let the
Council know when you book and
they’ll come up with a solution.
Only 1m3 will be picked up, about
the size of a small trailer load. Two
trucks will collect the rubbish- the
first taking the reusable goods to the
Community Recycling Network centre
in Penrose, which distributes items to
community groups. The rest will go
into landfill. ME Family Service’s Talking
Rubbish team is out and about on our
streets at the moment letting people
know about the changes. ME Family
Services CEO Peter Sykes says the
Council’s new inorganic collection policy
means Mangere residents need to look
for alternative ways to recycle or dispose
of their unwanted stuff.
“We need to be looking towards other
ways of using resources and preventing
illegal dumping,” he says.
For more info contact the Talking
Rubbish team: koia@mefsc.org.nz
& justine@mefsc.org.nz. And check
out:www.makethemostofwaste.co.nz

2
Summer holiday programme fun!
Māngere
East
Community
Centre
Holiday
Learning the wonders of Ihumatao Stonefields
Programme
Local high school making big impact
IMPACT PROJECTS: Southern Cross students taking part in a number of projects around
the school designed to beautify and bless the school and local community.
New Dialysis Unit brings hope
The Diaverum Haemodialysis Unit was opened and a blessing was given
by Kaumatua on the 29th of January. The Unit was opened by Phillip Balmer,
Director of Hospital Services, CMDHB and Esteban Harper Cox, Managing
director, Diaverum. It is located above the Mangere Community Health Centre,
10 Waddon Place. The new service is set to further enhance medical services of
Mangere and provide a much needed resource to the many patients with kidney
problems living in the area
NITTY GRITTY
Words: Justin Latif Design: Jo Latif
Publisher: ME Family Services
275times@gmail.com | www.275times.com
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Checking out the entertainment at Christmas @ Centre Park, Mangere
Southern Cross Campus is
a school on the up and get
set to see more of their
amazing students out and
about in the community
looking for ways to make a
difference.
Deputy Director Natasha Hemara
spoke to 275 Times at their launch
of the school’s Impact Project week
in late December. The Impact Project
week is a way for students to give
back, doing beautification projects
around the school and community.
Ms Hemara says the students will
be given further opportunities to
undertake projects in the community
this year focused on giving back and
showcasing the awesome students
coming out of the school.
“We’re trying to build skills of
resilience and responsibility so they
can be proud of who they are.
“We’ll be going out and giving to
local charities, churches and beyond
that, forming partnerships with local
businesses."
Ms Hemara says the school is on the
cutting edge of educational practices
and has recently received a very
positive endorsement of its work in
the latest ERO review.
“We’re a different school now.
We’ve really developed and come
a long way. We’re producing some
phenomenal and amazing achievers.
And it’s important the community
knows that we’re here for it.”
Contact: Tuhin Choudhury

FAITH FUELS FIGHT
3
FOR JUSTICE cont...
The immense pressures that come with the job mean her faith
and family are a huge source of encouragement.
“My faith is one of the only things that keeps me going. It
teaches me to treat people fairly and with respect, regardless
of whether I’m being sworn at or abused and it allows me to
handle the pressure and the stress.”
Another source of inspiration has been seeing her brother
Charles break into the All Blacks, and continue to follow his
dreams despite the setbacks he’s faced.
“Seeing Charles make the All Blacks has encouraged me to
keep going and chase my goals. We sort of understand the
pressures we each face and we’ve been able to help each
other. Growing up we didn’t have a whole lot of people who
had gone down professional careers - so we really just had to
work it out on our own and the key factor was our faith.”
Ema Piutau's church Breakthrough Centre is holding
their annual Omega Family Day at David Lange Park
on Saturday, February 27. It's set to be an awesome
event with heaps of fun games, activities and sports
for the whole family. Check out the poster (right) for
more details.
editorial
For many in our community, the excitment of a new year
has been tempered by the sad news of the passing of Eden
Nathan (at the time of printing the other teenage girl injured
in the car accident was still on life support at Auckland City
Hospital). As the tributes have filtered through, we've heard
of her beauty, her intelligence and her courageous spirit.
Every life counts, whether it's long or shortened by tragedy
and as we were reminded by a Pastor at the tangi, Eden
was a person of great value and dignity in God's eyes, knit
together by His fingers, and made only a little lower than
the angels (Psalm 8). Whilst the manner of her passing has
us questioning why and how, there need be no questions
about what she meant to her Creator.
Our local Member of Parliament Su'a
William Sio regularly states that Mangere
is the home of the young, gifted and
beautiful. So let us remember Eden
as someone who embodied those
same traits, like so many others across
Mangere. On that note let us remind
all our youth that they are loved, valued
and have so much potential to fulfil.
And if we can really inspire that next
generation to achieve what they're truly
capable of then this community will shine
just as brightly as Eden Nathan's sparkling
smile.
Jo and Justin Latif
VERSE OF THE MONTH: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. Ps 8:4-5
(Sponsored by Bill & Bridie Keenan)

Community Notices
MANUKAU MaGPies' Hosting Origin legends
State of Origin Legends of League event on Thursday February 4, at
5pm at Moyle Park. Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley, Petero Civoniceva,
Kevin Walters and Brent Tate are all scheduled to visit.
MANGERE EAST HAWKS GET RABBITS VISIT
Mangere East Rugby League Club has its muster day on Thursday
February 4, and on the same day at 7pm the club will be receiving a
visit from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
PREPARE FOR WINTER - FREE INSULATION
The Warm Up New Zealand Programme which provides free
insulation in homes with a Community Services Card or Super Gold
CSC is running out in June! Ring 0800 777 111 to find out more.
COMPUTER & CV WORKSHOPS AT TOWN CENTRE
Free basic computer skills lessons at Mangere Town Centre Library
every Wednesday, 9.30am - 12pm. The Mangere Town Centre
Library is also hosting CV writing workshops every Friday.
TALKING RUBBISH
The Talking Rubbish team from ME Family Services will be running a
free workshop on how to minimise your waste plus present info on
the changes to the inorganic collections. Wednesday, February 10,
10.30 - 11.30am at Mangere Bridge Library.
LIVING WAGE ANNOUNCEMENT
The Living Wage Movement Aotearoa and the Manukau Rugby
League Club warmly invite you to attend the announcement of the
2016/2017 New Zealand Living Wage Rate on February 29, 6pm at
the clubroom at Moyle Park, Bader Drive.
LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS PUBLIC FORUM
The Respect Our Community Campaign was set up in 2013,
in opposition to the East West Link. Now we are exploring the
possibility of putting candidates forward for the 2016 local body
council elections. ROCC is really open to your input. If you think it’s a
good one – let ROCC know and show your support on February 11,
7pm, Mangere East Community Centre, 372 Massey Road, Mangere
East.
Mangere East Community Centre
FREE and low cost classes in: Drivers Licensing, English, Samoan, Te
Reo Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuen, Parenting Courses, Korowai
and much more! Ring 09 275 6161 or go to www.mangereeast.org
Young creatives
apply here!
Welding +
Panel beating
BUILDING
AND
CARPENTRY
Recreation
& Sport
Automotive
Joinery
& Cabinet
making
Forces
Pre-Entry
Hospitality
Don’t
just dream it.
Barista
Warehousing
& Forklift
Operations
BECOME IT!
Lincoln Jefferson from the Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust
Brand It Competition launches for new
environmental initiative. A branding competition is
inviting creative students to find a cutting edge name and logo
that represents South Auckland youth and the environment.
Entries for the Brand It competition open on 15 December
2015, with students to submit their branding concept entry
to the website http://www.beautifulmanukau.org.nz/Brandit-competition.html
either as a 30 second video clip or a
letter. Closing date is 15 February 2016, and finalists will
be announced on 29 April 2016 on the MBCT website and
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/beautifulmanukau.
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FREE SELECTED
PROGRAMMES FOR
20+ YEAR OLDS
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Learners or
Restricted Licence
(conditions apply)
HANDS ON
TRAINING
Conditions apply.
MANGERE
(09) 257-5732 | 59 TIDAL RD