Mangere's 275 Times. April 2016

Edition #18
april 2016
275 times
275
Māngere’s
times
Our stories, our people, our Māngere
Kōrero paki ō tatou, Tāngata ō tatou, Ngā Hau Māngere ō tatou
Free!
GET LEGAL BEHIND THAT WHEEL
LISTEN TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Pikura Purotu trained Nathaniel Tawhi Aoake (inset) to drive and is ready to help anyone in Mangere get their licence.
As any young adult would know
getting your licence is crucial
to getting independence and
freedom – and for Nathaniel
Tawhi Aoake it was no different.
The 19-year-old Mangere resident was
about to leave high school and needed a
restricted to help him get a job. Like many
of his peers he was faced challenges with
getting a car to learn in, finances to sit the
test and learning support to make his goal
a reality. But thanks to a new initiative
called Behind the Wheel, Nathaniel passed
his restricted test first time and is now
safely and legally driving by himself.
The scheme ensures participants receive
a free driving lesson with a local instructor
and are then put through the Assessment
Tool to ensure they are safe and ready for
the test.
Licensing is an issue close to the heart
of Pukapuka Community Trust driving
instructor Pikura Purotu as she has
seen so many young people get locked
into dependency as they haven't been
able to drive legally. For this reason
she is throwing her support behind the
Behind the Wheel scheme. The scheme
involves a commitment made between
friends, family and whanau to support
each other so everybody drives with
the right licence. Registering a Behind
the Wheel Pledge team gains the team
access to the resources such as: free tips,
learning checklists, access to community
workshops and month by month advice
to help you get closer to your licence.
Pledge teams also get to take part in the
awesome community event, the Pit Stop
Challenge on the 9th of April supported by
Mai FM. There will be food, entertainment
and the opportunity for the teams to take
on fun challenges around Mangere.
To find out more about the Pit Stop
Challenge on April 9 and to register go
to: www.behindthewheel.co.nz
WHAT'S INSIDE
Māngere College Leaders
Life Childcare Centre
*NEW* Law column
Polyfest pictures
Tina's latest story
Take the Behind the Wheel Pledge,
get your whānau licensed and be
part of a fun community event!
To register & find out more go to
www.behindthewheel.nz

2
New leaders shine at MC
MANGERE COLLEGE LEADERS: Left to right: Principal Tom Web, Head Girl - Ana Taulanga and
Head Boy - Seleti Tu'ungafasi.
Ana Taulanga and Seleti
Tu’ungafasi love their community
and hope they can use their new
roles to make it even better.
The pair ​have just achieved the honour of
being named the new Head Girl and Head
Boy at Mangere College​.​
Ana says her parents were so excited that
her sister could hear their excited screams
from across the street.
“I was sleeping when Mr Webb called and
woke up to see the call. When Mr Webb
told me, my parents just started yelling,”​
she says.
Seleti says the news of his achievement ​
was a huge shock to his family.
“My mum didn’t believe me at first,” says
Seleti. “But when she realized it was true
she started crying. I didn’t cry, but I was
pretty happy too.”
The pair are both born-and-raised in
Mangere and will be following in the
footsteps of ​older ​family members who
have been ​student leaders as well.
Seleti says the role will help him develop
his leadership skills and confidence which
will put him in good stead for a future
both on the rugby field and in tertiary
studies.
​"​I really like the values the school has and
how the staff have helped me so much."
Ana hopes she can use her influence to
help others gain a sense of pride in their
community.
“It feels good to be raised around these
people, even though some bad stuff
happens, it’s still a good place to be."
Mr Webb says both students stood out for
their leadership abilities and humility​.
“They both enjoy helping people, and they
talked about ensuring the school keeps
improving which we’re all keen for.”
INTRODUCING TOM WEBB
What started as an overseas holiday
in 2000 has turned into an exciting
opportunity as the new principal of
Mangere College sixteen years later.
Tom Webb first came to New Zealand for
an overseas experience with his soonto-be
wife Elaine. The couple loved it so
much they returned with the intention
to make it their permanent home - and
they haven’t looked back since. Mr
Webb says he loves New Zealand and
is particularly passionate about the
opportunity he has to help students
reach their potential. For the last 12
years he’s been honing his educational
and management skills at Onehunga
High School but he now feels ready
to lead a school for himself. He says
Mangere College is ideal as his values
and the school's are closely matched.
“The main part of my philosophy is
that every student has the potential to
achieve and that it’s our job in school to
ensure that happens. That’s something
the staff feel here too.”
Mr Webb says he feels very fortunate to
be coming to a school that’s clearly on
the up.
“Last year the results the school had
were the best they have ever had - right
through level one, two and three,” he
says.
One area of expertise that Mr Webb is
keen to bring to the school is that of
E-Learning.
“E-learning is something I led at
Onehunga, and it’s something we’re
looking at here about how to bring more
technology into the teaching.”
Despite taking over from longtime
Principal John Heyes, he isn't over-awed
by the shoes he has to fill.
"I’m just excited about the years ahead
and all the possibilities we can achieve."
NITTY GRITTY
future
Editor: Justin Latif Design: Jo Latif
Publisher: ME Family Services
print
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Life Childcare Centre children and whanau enjoyed the annual
Pasifika day in March. They are pictured here learning a cultural dance.
Children and whanau enjoyed dressing in cultural dress, sharing
delicious food and reading stories in different Pasifika languages.
Contact: Tuhin Choudhury
Unit 7/17 Airpark Drive

LAW... What is it good for?
3
The law and our legal system is a scary
thing – or it might seem that way if you’ve
never had much to do with it. But it’s
actually designed to protect you.
However as many would know this
principle doesn’t always play out in
reality. Many of us do get ripped off, and
sometimes it might seem it's too hard
getting our rights upheld. So what can
you do? Get informed is a good start
and getting proactive is the next thing.
Mangere has some great free services
which provide a wealth of information,
assistance and support, including my place
of work which is the Mangere Community
Law Centre.
So if you’re in a spot of bother, don’t fret
until you’ve had a word to one of the
friendly lawyers at the law centre and
hopefully they can ensure you’ll be treated
fairly no matter the situation.
This is a new monthly column and next
edition I’ll give some tips on using the
Disputes Tribunal and if you’d like to send
ASB Polyfest 2016
Well done to all of the Mangere secondary schools who competed
in the largest secondary schools Polynesian cultural festival in the
world. Here are some of our local schools' top results:
Mangere College:
Samoan Stage: 1st AGGREGATE Tu'ufatasiga o Togi -Tama ma teine.
Tongan Stage: 1st Ma'ulu'ulu, 1st Soke.
Cook Island Stage: 3rd in Overall competitive Section
Best overall Co-Ed school
Southern Cross Campus:
Cook Island Stage: 1st in Overall competitive Section
Diversity Stage - Asia: 3rd Sri Lankan
Mangere College's Cook Island Group
in your law related questions email:
justin.latif@mangerelaw.org.nz
The Mangere Community Law Centre has
been serving the unmet legal needs of the
community since 1987.
If you’d like to make an appointment
to see a lawyer call 09 275 4310.
Southern Cross Campus' Kapa Haka Group.
Latest story from Ernestina Bonsu Maru:
Check out her latest story about Mangere based Anuanua Dance
Troupe - Cook Island Entertainment at Pasifika. Go to
facebook.com/mangereotahuhuarts/ to read the full story
or view the video interview on Tina's youtube channel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXWMqgRWFww
VERSE OF THE MONTH: Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
(Sponsored by Bill & Bridie Keenan)

Community Notices
FREE HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
SPLASH are running their Break-Away Holiday Programme again
in the April school holidays at Moana-nui-a-kiwa Pool and Leisure
centre in Mangere. SPLASH is a FREE programme of essential skill
learning and FUN for 11-17 year olds.
Contact Barbara: wai@watersafe.org.nz for more info.
MAKE MOMENTS ART TOUR
The Make Moments project is a series of free facilitated art tours for
people living with dementia and their carers.
Free on April 7, 1pm – 2:30pm at the Mangere Arts Centre.
CODE BREAKERS GAME SHOW
A Game Show which sees female international athletes represent
their countries in a game of wit, dance, singing, charades, acting and
code breaking. Get along on April 8, 7pm–10pm at Mangere War
Memorial Hall, Dominion Road.
Out and About Summer Skate Series
Join the Out and About team and Summer Skate Series team for this
great event. Show us your skills on the park and go in the chance to
make it to the final held at Barry Curtis Skate Park on May 7. Great
prizes to be won for age group winners, lunch and drinks provided.
It's FREE at Mangere Mountain, April 16, 10am – 2pm.
ORIENTEERING FUN FOR FREE
Join the Out and About team at David Lange Park on April 26, 10am
- 12pm. Follow the clues, overcome the challenges and see who
finishes the race first. Suitable for all ages and abilities a great FREE
holiday activity!
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.
MANGERE EAST COMMUNITY CENTRE CLASSES
Learn Te Reo Maori, salsa dancing, sewing, gardening or how to
make a Korowai and much more! Ring 09 275 6161 or go to
www.mangereeast.org for more details.
Do Good Feel Good
Welding +
Panel beating
BUILDING
AND
CARPENTRY
Employment Skills
Automotive
Recreation
& Sport
Joinery
& Cabinet
making
Forces
Pre-Entry:
Army, Navy,
Air force,
Police
Don’t
just dream it.
Warehousing
& Forklift
Operations
Fitness &
Exercise
BECOME IT!
Corey (front row, second from right) and the Do Good Feel Good squad.
Do Good Feel Good is all about helping young people
connect to activities in the community which are fun,
and will make them feel good.
Corey is a squad leader for this Alliance Health initiative and
he organized a sports day at the Mangere gym earlier this
month. The fulltime lifeguard says this initiative will help get
young people not only having fun while exercising but also
hopefully connect them to important health services they may
be missing out on. “Do good feel good means trying to do
good in the community so we can all feed good.”
Check out their Facebook page for the next event and to do a fun
survey to find out what health services you might be eligible for.
https://www.facebook.com/dogoodfeelgoodnz
FREE LEARNERS
OR RESTRICTED
LICENCE *
ZERO FEES &
TRAVEL SUBSIDY
FOR 16-19YRS *
FREE SELECTED
PROGRAMMES FOR
20+ YEAR OLDS
MANGERE
(09) 257-5732
59 TIDAL RD
Conditions apply.
HANDS ON
TRAINING