275 Times May 2017
Mangere community news - 275 Times
Mangere community news - 275 Times
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EDITION #30<br />
MAY <strong>2017</strong><br />
<strong>275</strong><br />
Māngere’s<br />
times<br />
<strong>275</strong> times<br />
Free!<br />
Our stories, our people, our Māngere<br />
Kōrero paki ō tatou, Tāngata ō tatou, Ngā Hau Māngere ō tatou<br />
MĀNGERE LAND CAMPAIGN GOES TO UN<br />
SOUL representatives Pania<br />
Newton and Delwyn Roberts<br />
arrived back from New York<br />
last Friday to a rousing<br />
welcome from supporters.<br />
The said they received a warm<br />
response when they presented<br />
the case for protecting Ihumātao<br />
to the UN Permanent Forum on<br />
Indigenous Issues last week.<br />
They also met Victoria Tauli-<br />
Corpuz, the United Nations<br />
Special Rapporteur on the Rights<br />
of Indigenous Peoples, who was<br />
“very sympathetic towards our<br />
struggle and agreed to lodge<br />
individual communications with<br />
the NZ Government regarding the<br />
injustices suffered at Ihumātao.<br />
"During the meeting we extended an<br />
invitation to the Special Rapporteur<br />
to visit Ihumātao and investigate<br />
Fletcher Residential and the<br />
Government's breaches of various<br />
international standards of human<br />
rights. We await a response from<br />
the Special Rapporteur regarding<br />
our invitation to visit Ihumātao<br />
in a few weeks time. I am very<br />
hopeful,” Pania told <strong>275</strong><strong>Times</strong>.<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE:<br />
Where to from here for the campaign?<br />
“We were invited to take our kaupapa<br />
to CERD in Geneva (Switzerland)<br />
in July this year, this means our<br />
issue will go up another level. We<br />
look forward to sending some<br />
representatives there on our behalf.<br />
“We will also continue to do what<br />
we have set ourselves to do, which<br />
is exercise our kaitiakitanga over<br />
this whenua and lobby for the<br />
protection of Ihumātao. We will focus<br />
our efforts on the proceedings that<br />
we have lodged in various Courts<br />
including the Maori Land Court<br />
and The Waitangi Tribunal. We are<br />
also looking to pursue other legal<br />
avenues in both the Environment<br />
Court and the High Court.”<br />
How can people best<br />
support the campaign?<br />
“There are so many ways<br />
people can support our<br />
campaign from near and far:<br />
hhIn campaigns like this,<br />
public awareness is key. Share<br />
our story with your networks<br />
and community to shed light<br />
on the violations that Fletcher<br />
Residential and the Government<br />
have committed at Ihumātao.<br />
Above: Representatives from Ihumātao<br />
are welcomed home from New York.<br />
Inset: Pania Newton presenting at the UN<br />
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.<br />
hhGet involved with the campaign<br />
intimately by attending the<br />
weekly meetings at Ambury<br />
Farm every Tuesday at 6pm.<br />
hhAttend the fun SOUL activities<br />
that we hold on a regular basis.<br />
hhSend letters or call Members<br />
of Parliament, Auckland City<br />
Council, Heritage New Zealand, and<br />
Fletchers Residential to voice your<br />
concerns regarding this issue.<br />
hhMake a donation via Givealittle to<br />
help the SOUL campaign continue<br />
its operations. https://givealittle.<br />
co.nz/cause/soulstopsha62<br />
hhKeep in touch through our<br />
Facebook page: Save Our Unique<br />
Landscape campaign - SOUL<br />
P3: Low-carb High-Fat Workshops P5: Local Gardens Shine P7: Maramataka
Māngere KFC Workers Strike<br />
Workers from south Auckland<br />
were well-represented during the<br />
Restaurant Brands strike last month.<br />
Unite Union members from KFC<br />
Manukau, Airport drive-through,<br />
Māngere Central, Māngere East,<br />
and Ōtāhuhu filled a bus to<br />
capacity to travel to KFC Balmoral<br />
to take part in the big one-day<br />
combined Auckland picket.<br />
These strikes united the diverse<br />
workforce at KFC. Strikes were largely<br />
led by the women in the stores,<br />
and there was a strong showing of<br />
Pasifika and Indian workers. Assistant<br />
Managers, Shift Supervisors and<br />
Team Members were all involved.<br />
Fast food workers from around<br />
Aotearoa are taking industrial action<br />
against their employer Restaurant<br />
Brands, (which owns KFC, Carls<br />
Jr, Starbucks and Pizza Hut) in an<br />
effort to improve their Collective<br />
Agreement. Union members are<br />
asking for a small pay increase<br />
each year, better staffing levels<br />
in each store, a living wage and<br />
redundancy compensation.<br />
Astevez, a Shift Supervisor at<br />
KFC Māngere explains:<br />
“I felt I needed to go on strike<br />
because this was my chance to<br />
legally show the company, in a way<br />
that affected them, that I am serious<br />
about wanting to change my work<br />
conditions, which I was sick of.<br />
“When I walked out I felt<br />
empowered and I realised just<br />
how vital each person is to<br />
running a store – I realised the<br />
Above: Shift Supervisor Astevez<br />
(inset), joined workers from KFC stores<br />
in Māngere, Māngere East, Ōtāhuhu and<br />
Auckland Airport at the one-day strike.<br />
company doesn’t value me enough<br />
and treat me like a decent human.<br />
“While I was doing the strike action<br />
I was amazed at all the other people<br />
who felt just like me and were sick<br />
of their working conditions and<br />
treatment by Restaurant Brands.<br />
“When I saw the manager of a KFC<br />
branch close her store and join in<br />
the union strike action at Balmoral, it<br />
made me see everyone outside of the<br />
top management has had enough.”<br />
2<br />
NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE A STEP CLOSER<br />
by Alan Worman<br />
The need for a purpose-built community centre in Walter<br />
Massey Park has been spoken about for many years.<br />
Māngere East Community Centre Manager Hone<br />
Fowler and I are part of a community working group<br />
that is planning to make this idea a reality. The working<br />
group is made up of local residents, existing park users,<br />
and organisations that provide services in the area.<br />
In April we proudly presented the group’s feasibility<br />
study to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.<br />
The study, funded by Māngere East ACCESS Trust,<br />
Ohomairangi Trust and a Lotto grant, clearly showed<br />
the need for a new centre and highlighted how it could<br />
expand the number of services already provided.<br />
There are many possibilities. Just think how great<br />
it would be to have a gymnasium, more meeting<br />
spaces or even a community café in Māngere East!<br />
We thank the Local Board for passing a motion to refer<br />
the Māngere East Feasibility Study Report to the Auckland<br />
Council’s Service Strategy and Integration Unit.<br />
Campaigning for a new community centre: Alan Worman (left) and<br />
Hone Fowler present to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board in April.<br />
We eagerly await the report that the Council Officers<br />
will prepare outlining different options, costs for the<br />
development and the inclusion of funding for the<br />
project in the Auckland Council’s 10-year budget.
NGĀ TAPUWAE<br />
WINS NATIONAL<br />
KĪ-O-RAHI TITLE<br />
Māngere dad Joseph Finau is<br />
running workshops to help local<br />
people improve their health<br />
while eating familiar Māori and<br />
Island foods.<br />
by Patricia Teariki-Veiao<br />
While most children were enjoying the<br />
school holidays last month, students<br />
from Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae were<br />
preparing for the National Secondary<br />
Schools Kī-o-rahi tournament.<br />
More than 20 schools from around<br />
the country took part in the twoday<br />
event, which was held at Sir<br />
Barry Curtis Park on April 19–20.<br />
Coached by head PE teacher, Danny<br />
Maera, the team from Nga Tapuwae were<br />
hoping for a top four placing as they have<br />
never made it to the final round before.<br />
But they did better than that – first<br />
reaching the final, then fighting off fierce<br />
competition from Huntly’s Te Wharekura<br />
o Rākaumangamanga to post a<br />
score of 10–8 and come away<br />
with the National title.<br />
Captain Debra-Wai Henare says her team<br />
had trained hard for the past five months<br />
and were humbled by the support of<br />
their school and the students who<br />
turned out in force to cheer them on.<br />
Kī-o-rahi is a fast-paced traditional<br />
Māori sport incorporating skills similar<br />
to netball and touch rugby. While<br />
its origins are indigenous to New<br />
Zealand, it is very popular overseas.<br />
Below: A member of Te Kura Māori o Ngā<br />
Tapuwae's winning Kī-o-rahi team in action<br />
Taking control to<br />
fight depression,<br />
obesity & diabetes<br />
by Joseph Finau<br />
Three years ago, I lost my<br />
wife to cancer not long after<br />
she gave birth to our sixth<br />
child. This was hard for all of<br />
the children, including two<br />
with autism and ADHD.<br />
I stopped work to take care<br />
of the children who missed<br />
their mother deeply. I went<br />
through depression, anxiety<br />
and was suicidal, so I sought<br />
help. At this time I was also<br />
diagnosed with diabetes and<br />
weighed in at over 200kgs.<br />
I tried many programmes<br />
referred by my doctor, but I<br />
wasn’t losing enough weight.<br />
Even though I was exercising<br />
every day and eating low fat<br />
products, I ended up gaining<br />
more weight than I lost. I<br />
became depressed again.<br />
I thought of my kids and<br />
decided to use this ‘fail’ as<br />
‘fuel’. I wanted to keep trying.<br />
I asked my doctor for an<br />
alternative, and she gave me<br />
a copy of “LCHF – Low Carb<br />
Healthy Fats” by Professor<br />
Grant Schofield from the<br />
Human Potential Centre at<br />
AUT. It was to be my bible for<br />
two years, helping me reduce<br />
sugar and starchy foods such<br />
as pasta, rice, bread and taro.<br />
The thing about eating low<br />
carb is that you never starve<br />
yourself – you eat till you’re<br />
full. I was on a budget, and I<br />
didn’t have to separate my food<br />
from the kids meals. I cooked<br />
lamb flaps, bacon bones, pork<br />
bones, corned beef, povi, brisket,<br />
salmon frames, and pig heads<br />
with coconut cream and taro<br />
leaves; staple Island ingredients.<br />
The more I ate this way,<br />
the more my body was<br />
healing, using familiar<br />
Island and Māori foods.<br />
I’m currently living a full life<br />
and I’m in control! I’ve been<br />
given a second chance in life.<br />
Come along to my free<br />
workshops on Soulfood to<br />
help our community combat<br />
obesity and type 2 diabetes.<br />
Where: ME Family Services,<br />
7 Hain Ave, Māngere East.<br />
When: Every Tuesday,<br />
10:30am – noon.<br />
To find out more, you can check<br />
out my Facebook group:<br />
Low Carbz 4 Starters<br />
& Big Families<br />
or this one, run by Dr Lily Frazer:<br />
Low Carb Healthy Fanau<br />
– community support<br />
3
Help shape an exciting future for Māngere<br />
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local<br />
Board needs you to help<br />
shape Māngere’s future by<br />
providing feedback on its<br />
draft Local Board Plan.<br />
Local Board Plans are developed<br />
every three years. Boards use<br />
the plans to guide decisions on<br />
local activities and projects.<br />
“This plans builds on the foundations<br />
we have put in place over the<br />
past two terms and reflects what<br />
our community has told us is<br />
important to them,” says local board<br />
chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene.<br />
Among the priorities for the<br />
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board<br />
are improvements to Walter<br />
Massey and Boggust parks, Kiwi<br />
Esplanade and Blake Road Reserve,<br />
completion of Māngere Town<br />
Centre bus station upgrade and<br />
Bader Drive improvements.<br />
The Board also wants Māngere Centre<br />
Park to become a destination park<br />
and to continue delivery of Te Ara<br />
Mua – Future Streets to increase<br />
opportunities for walking and cycling.<br />
The local board supports the<br />
community’s desire to create a vibrant<br />
community hub in and around the<br />
Māngere East shops but says planning<br />
and investment must be coordinated<br />
to ensure the best outcome.<br />
“The local board doesn’t have the<br />
money to make it happen and so<br />
our focus is to advocate to the<br />
council’s governing body and<br />
council controlled organisations<br />
such as Pānuku Development<br />
Auckland, for joined-up thinking<br />
and investment that take existing<br />
facilities in to consideration.”<br />
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD<br />
• yGo to shapeauckland.co.nz<br />
from 22 <strong>May</strong> to read the<br />
plan and give feedback.<br />
• yMake a submission between<br />
22 <strong>May</strong> and 30 June <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
• yMeet with local board<br />
members at pop up events:<br />
Thursday 1 June, 4:30pm–<br />
7:30pm, Māngere East<br />
Community Centre, 372<br />
Massey Rd Māngere East<br />
Saturday 3 June, 12pm–<br />
2pm. Tōia, Ōtāhuhu<br />
Recreation Precinct, 30<br />
Mason Ave, Ōtāhuhu<br />
Sunday 18 June, 8:30am<br />
–11:30am, Māngere Boutique<br />
Market, Māngere Bridge Village,<br />
Coronation Rd, Māngere Bridge<br />
Or at the ‘Have your Say’<br />
event: Thursday 25 <strong>May</strong>,<br />
6–8pm at the Māngere Arts<br />
Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku.<br />
4<br />
Planning for success<br />
Reaching your final year of<br />
school can have you thinking<br />
ahead to what’s next.<br />
For 18-year-old Tamati, hitting this<br />
milestone made him realize that in<br />
order to do a carpentry course with<br />
BCITO, he’d need to think about<br />
getting his drivers licence. He shared<br />
with us his licensing journey so far:<br />
“For the past two years I had no<br />
intention to get my licence. But<br />
this year, when I thought about<br />
work next year, I thought it’s a<br />
must for me to get licensed.<br />
“I have to give credit to Koia [Behind<br />
the Wheel Māngere instructor].<br />
He hit me up to do four classes at<br />
Māngere East Community Centre.<br />
“He taught me a lot. It was only<br />
four practices and then I went to<br />
the test in VTNZ and I passed! I was<br />
shocked and amazed – sort of not<br />
expecting to pass. I was a bit scared,<br />
but when I did it I was stoked.<br />
“I have five more months till I<br />
do my Restricted test. I’m still<br />
learning at the moment – there<br />
are still things I need to improve.<br />
“I’ve been practising with family. My<br />
brother has his Full licence and has<br />
been a big support so far. We’re using<br />
his car and driving around with him in<br />
the passenger seat. It’s cool, he knows<br />
to be cautious when driving and he<br />
said safety is a must when driving.<br />
“I’m definitely planning on going<br />
to the Restricted workshop to make<br />
it easier to pass my Restricted<br />
licence exam. I’m excited to do<br />
the course and see how it goes.<br />
“When I get licensed I’m excited<br />
about going everywhere – and I<br />
won’t have to rely on my parents to<br />
drop me off. I also want to help my<br />
grandparents. They’re getting old<br />
and they need us to be with them<br />
to take them to appointments.<br />
“I’d tell others like me to get a<br />
licence early ’cos it’s a good feeling<br />
to have it and it means you’re safe<br />
when you get in a car to drive.”<br />
Let’s get licensed together!<br />
Thinking ahead: Year-13 student Tamati is<br />
planning for life after school by getting his<br />
licence now.<br />
Check out Behind the Wheel for awesome licensing<br />
workshops and community instructors, to help you and<br />
your whānau learn every stage of the licensing process!<br />
For more information about<br />
Behind the Wheel and the licensing<br />
workshops coming up, visit:<br />
www.behindthewheel.nz<br />
or find us on Facebook<br />
@BehindtheWheelMangere.<br />
@behindthewheelmangere<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
Find out more at<br />
behindthewheel.nz
Growing gardeners: Four-year-old Tristan Helleur-Tafoulua (right)<br />
and friends enjoy the garden at Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae.<br />
LOCAL GARDENS ON SHOW<br />
Māngere’s hidden garden<br />
gems had a chance to<br />
shine during last month’s<br />
Garden & Foraging Tour.<br />
by Justine Skilling<br />
Talking Rubbish<br />
ME Family Services<br />
Hosted by Talking Rubbish (ME<br />
Family Services), the tour group came<br />
from near and far to see what the<br />
Māngere community has to offer<br />
for people interested in growing<br />
their own food and eating local.<br />
First stop was Papatūānuku Kōkiri<br />
Marae, where students from Te Whare<br />
Wānanga o Awanuiārangi’s Kai Oranga<br />
gardening course showed us the<br />
fruits of their mahi so far this year.<br />
Tutor Helen Davis took us through<br />
the new seed house and garden<br />
plots, where course participants<br />
put their learning (about organic<br />
gardening from a Māori perspective)<br />
into practice. Places are now<br />
open for the next free course,<br />
which starts in September.<br />
Next up was the Māngere College<br />
garden. The tour group was<br />
welcomed by volunteer garden coordinator<br />
(and NZ Gardener of the<br />
Year finalist) Metua Aerenga, along<br />
with staff, and student members of the<br />
school gardening club. The plots were<br />
bursting with produce and included<br />
an orchard area, compost bins and<br />
large greenhouse. Students from a<br />
variety of subjects spend time here<br />
and are able to take produce home to<br />
family, as well as selling to school staff.<br />
Last stop before lunch was the Old<br />
School Reserve Teaching Garden,<br />
where co-ordinators Yvonne Thomas<br />
and Graeme Hanson sent us out<br />
to forage for lunch amongst the<br />
lush vegetation. Having gathered<br />
a large basket of produce from<br />
the first three gardens, the group<br />
enjoyed fresh, local fried rice and<br />
smoothies in the sun at CIDANZ<br />
(Cook Island Development Agency),<br />
along with delicious homemade<br />
pies from the CIDANZ café.<br />
Before heading home, we stopped in<br />
at Ngā Iwi School to see how their<br />
recently opened garden was growing.<br />
Teacher Kathrina McGuire and her<br />
group of green-fingered students<br />
gave us a guided tour, taking in the<br />
vege plots, rainwater tanks, compost<br />
bin, worm farm, orchard areas and<br />
harakeke spiral. It was fantastic to<br />
see a new generation of Māngere<br />
gardeners getting inspired to grow.<br />
Thanks to all the gardens that<br />
participated in the tour. “Awesome<br />
people. I’m inspired to muck in<br />
more and learnt heaps too”, said<br />
one participant. The tour reminded<br />
us all of how amazing the soil is in<br />
this area, and how easy it can be<br />
to grow our own delicious, cheap,<br />
fresh food – better for our bodies<br />
and for better for Papatūānuku!<br />
Useful contacts:<br />
• yPapatūānuku Kōkiri Marae:<br />
141R Robertson Rd, Māngere<br />
• yTe Whare Wānanga o<br />
Awanuiārangi: www.wananga.<br />
ac.nz (ph. 0508 926 264)<br />
• yOld School Reserve Teaching<br />
Garden: 299R Kirkbride Rd, Māngere<br />
• yCIDANZ: 283–289<br />
Kirkbride Rd, Māngere<br />
• yMāngere Mountain Education<br />
Centre: 100 Coronation<br />
Rd, Māngere Bridge<br />
• yCompost Collective:<br />
www.compostcollective.org.nz/<br />
• yGardens for Health:<br />
www.dpt.org.nz/ourprogrammes/garden-4-health<br />
Above: Paul Lesoa encourages fellow<br />
students to aim high, study hard and believe<br />
in themselves.<br />
HARD WORK MAKES A<br />
DIFFERENCE AT SCHOOL<br />
My name is Paul Lesoa. I’m 16<br />
years old and currently a Year-12<br />
student at Māngere College.<br />
Some of us young Pasefika students<br />
might feel as if school is just too<br />
hard for us, that we’re not capable<br />
of achieving an endorsement.<br />
I believe that we’re more<br />
than capable of achieving an<br />
endorsement or even earning a<br />
scholarship, but it all comes down<br />
to one thing, and that is hard work.<br />
Some of us can relate to the<br />
struggles that some of our families<br />
go through to make sure we have<br />
a better education than what<br />
they had. They do their best to<br />
give us resources that weren’t<br />
available to them, just so we can<br />
get a good education. That’s a<br />
beautiful act of selflessness.<br />
The power of knowledge comes<br />
from many things, but the most<br />
important is hard work. Many of us<br />
are taught to work with what we’ve<br />
got, and that’s just how life is at<br />
times. Every obstacle you overcome<br />
you gain a bit of knowledge. You<br />
will go places if you just take the<br />
time to study and work hard.<br />
Strive to do your best, aim for<br />
merits and excellences because<br />
you are more than capable,<br />
you have the knowledge to get<br />
those endorsements. Put your<br />
mind to it and you’ll achieve it.<br />
5
COME ALONG & SUPPORT OUR<br />
PARK JAM FUNDRAISER<br />
Feat DJ POROUFESSOR // DJ CXL // RIZVAN<br />
MELODOWNZ // RAZÉ // VWA STUDENTS<br />
BBOY/BGIRL JAM // LIVE ART // OPEN MIC<br />
S.O.U.L // KIDS GAMES // SAUSAGE SIZZLES<br />
Inspiring soul sister: Lisa Cave<br />
6<br />
fundraiser<br />
When: 20th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Where: Mangere East library (outside)<br />
370 Massey Rd, Mangere East<br />
Time: 10am - 2pm<br />
FOR DONATIONS // ENQUIRIES CONTACT: SHIRL'E or HONE AT THE<br />
MANGERE EAST COMMUNITY CENTRE 09 <strong>275</strong> 6161<br />
(ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS A NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR MATUA<br />
TIGILAU NESS THAT WAS STOLEN OUTSIDE MANGERE EAST<br />
COMMUNITY CENTRE)<br />
by Shirl’e Fruean<br />
This month, I wanted to<br />
feature a beautiful, strong<br />
soul sister with the voice<br />
of an angel: Lisa Cave.<br />
Born and raised in<br />
Murupara, a small town<br />
45 minutes out of<br />
Rotorua, Lisa discovered<br />
her talent for singing<br />
early – joining the local<br />
children’s church band<br />
at just six years old.<br />
Now living in Māngere,<br />
Lisa has been happily<br />
married to her best friend<br />
Kaleb for nine years. The<br />
couple are leaders at<br />
their church, where Lisa<br />
works with women who<br />
have been in abusive<br />
relationships. They also<br />
have two adorable babies<br />
– Armani (3) and Vilah-<br />
Prayer (12 months).<br />
Being a mother can<br />
be pretty full-on, but<br />
somehow Lisa manages<br />
to balance everything she<br />
does with style and grace.<br />
Even though the church<br />
has been her main<br />
vehicle to express her<br />
talents, Lisa also teaches<br />
singing, song writing,<br />
recording and live sound<br />
as part of the Certificate<br />
of Māori Performing<br />
Arts at Te Wānanga o<br />
Aotearoa in Māngere.<br />
I first met Lisa, and<br />
witnessed the blessings<br />
of her labour, when I<br />
was also tutoring at<br />
the wānanga a couple<br />
of years ago. I admired<br />
her work ethic and<br />
remember that we both<br />
wanted the best for our<br />
students. That’s what<br />
I loved about her.<br />
“ALWAYS<br />
BE OPEN TO<br />
LEARNING NEW<br />
THINGS AND<br />
UPSKILLING IN<br />
YOUR CRAFT. ”<br />
On Easter Sunday this<br />
year, Lisa invited me to<br />
attend a production at her<br />
church. I was extremely<br />
moved by the message<br />
behind the show and I<br />
couldn’t hold back my<br />
tears of joy, especially<br />
seeing her still on stage<br />
singing and still giving<br />
me goosebumps.<br />
Over the years Lisa has<br />
helped many students<br />
who didn’t believe in<br />
themselves, and some<br />
of them have since<br />
gone on to become<br />
independent artists.<br />
Her advice for any upand-coming<br />
artists is:<br />
Don’t just rely on ‘natural<br />
talent’, always be open<br />
to learning new things<br />
and upskilling in your<br />
craft. You can always<br />
go beyond your best!<br />
Lisa will be releasing her<br />
own music real soon so<br />
keep an eye out for it.
REVIEW<br />
MIRROR<br />
MIRROR<br />
Māngere Arts Centre’s Mirror<br />
Mirror is South Auckland<br />
at its finest. The classic<br />
tale of Snow White retold<br />
through a Pasifika lens,<br />
the show combines heart,<br />
soul and more laughter<br />
than I could handle.<br />
by Gabriel Faatau’uu<br />
Set in Auckland, the story follows<br />
Snowy (played by high school<br />
student Irene Folau), as she<br />
attempts to fulfil her father’s will<br />
after his death by searching for<br />
the legendary seven dwarves.<br />
Snowy and her best friend Pati<br />
(Luse Sua-Tuipulotu), travel around<br />
Auckland seeking the dwarves while<br />
facing difficulties created by Queen<br />
B (Brady Peeti) and the trolls.<br />
By the end of the journey, Snowy<br />
learns that her mother was the<br />
seventh dwarf. After her mother’s<br />
death, the gift was passed on to her<br />
first born – which we learn is Pati, the<br />
best friend who was always her sister.<br />
The show is beautifully written<br />
and ticked all the boxes for<br />
me. I thoroughly enjoyed the<br />
South Auckland’s Snow White: Snowy (Irene Folau) and Queen B (Brady Peeti)<br />
rock the stage at Māngere Arts Centre. (Photo: Tanya Muagututi’a)<br />
storyline and the spin-off created<br />
by the cast and directors Alison<br />
Quigan and Troy Tu’ua.<br />
Although at times I struggled to<br />
hear certain solos, the music,<br />
led by musical director Siosaia<br />
Folau, and accompanied by<br />
Elvis Lopeti’s contemporary<br />
choreography, was astonishing.<br />
I watched the show with my fouryear-old<br />
nephew AJ, who has seen<br />
many shows at the Centre. The<br />
experience took me down memory<br />
lane. I wondered how AJ would<br />
understand the references to Arthur,<br />
Captain Planet and Pokemon –<br />
but he laughed just the same and<br />
more. He now sings and dances to<br />
all the songs at home every day.<br />
Unlike AJ, I was not born nor<br />
raised in Auckland, so I particularly<br />
enjoyed Snowy’s journey as she<br />
travels across the harbour bridge,<br />
visits the night markets and finally<br />
ends up in Māngere – it reminded<br />
me a little of my own my life.<br />
Although I was not part of this show,<br />
I have been in of a couple of shows at<br />
the Māngere Arts Centre where AJ has<br />
seen me perform. I hope that one day;<br />
he too will perform at Māngere Arts<br />
Centre, and I can watch him<br />
and be proud – like I am<br />
of Mirror Mirror.<br />
In the meantime, we’re both<br />
looking forward to the Centre’s<br />
next round of kids shows.<br />
MARAMATAKA:<br />
<strong>May</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
by Ayla Hoeta<br />
<strong>May</strong> is the last month<br />
of the year according<br />
to our maramataka<br />
or lunar calendar.<br />
If you follow the<br />
maramataka you’ll notice<br />
that we’ve just come out of<br />
a late harvest season that<br />
started on 3 March, when<br />
Whānui (Vega) the harvest<br />
star rose in the morning<br />
sky at 35° north east.<br />
This star is an ancient<br />
time-marker telling us to<br />
preserve and store our<br />
food so we have plenty of<br />
kai when the cold winter<br />
months come around.<br />
The end of the year<br />
is also a time<br />
to prepare for<br />
the rising of<br />
Puanga (Rigel<br />
in Orion), the<br />
star that marks<br />
the New Year<br />
for West Coast<br />
communities.<br />
This year Puanga will<br />
be visible just before<br />
sunrise on 10 June at 5°<br />
above the horizon (siting<br />
is at 100° south east).<br />
The best place to view<br />
Puanga will be the<br />
Maraetai Wharf (close to<br />
Umupuia Marae). Plan to<br />
arrive about 6am, and<br />
take a compass with you.<br />
Mark a spot on the horizon<br />
along the 100° line. The<br />
bright star you’ll see is<br />
Puanga<br />
rising to signal the<br />
start of the new year.<br />
Start preparing your<br />
fishing, planting, exercise<br />
and social calendar for<br />
the year. Then wait for the<br />
kohurangi to flower. This<br />
is the time to get going<br />
and put all your welllaid<br />
plans into action.<br />
Te rākaunui, the<br />
highest energy day,<br />
is 9 <strong>May</strong>. The<br />
days before<br />
and after te<br />
rākaunui<br />
are always<br />
quite highenergy<br />
as well.<br />
Tangaroa a mua,<br />
Tangaroa a roto,<br />
and Tangaroa kiokio<br />
(16 – 18 <strong>May</strong>) are good<br />
planting and fishing days.<br />
Check out the <strong>275</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Facebook page if you<br />
need a maramataka dial.<br />
Enjoy whānau.<br />
Kohurangi blossom: a sign<br />
that it’s time to put your plans<br />
into action.<br />
7
Community Notices<br />
MUSIC MONTH AT MANGERE BRIDGE LIBRARY<br />
Learn to play the ukulele as part of the Funtastic Fridays After<br />
School Programme! Join in the strumming good fun on Friday,<br />
26 <strong>May</strong> at 3.30pm. Parental supervision requested. Ph. 09 636<br />
6797 for more info.<br />
TOM’S EXERCISE<br />
FREE Pacific aerobic exercise classes every Monday 5:30pm<br />
– 6:30 pm and Saturday 8am – 9am at the Māngere Baptist<br />
Church hall, corner Bader Drive and Ashgrove Road, Māngere.<br />
All welcome. For more info contact Tom on 027 <strong>275</strong> 9532.<br />
WALKING EXERCISE GROUP<br />
FREE Walking group every Wednesday (if the weather is fine).<br />
10 – 11am at the Baptist Church Māngere East, 162 Portage<br />
Road, Māngere East. All welcome. For more info phone Dr<br />
Upstall on 09 278 2356 or Tom on 027 <strong>275</strong> 9532.<br />
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NEEDS VOLUNTEERS<br />
Time to spare or skills to share? Why not volunteer for Citizens<br />
Advice Bureau (CAB) in Māngere, Ōtāhuhu or Papatoetoe? The<br />
CAB is all about the client – making sure that individuals do not<br />
suffer through ignorance of their rights and responsibilities, and<br />
that communities are responsibly developed. Visit, phone, or<br />
email CAB Māngere for more info, or apply online at cab.org.nz.<br />
Find CAB Māngere at Māngere Town Centre behind the Library<br />
(Orly Avenue side). Ph. 09 <strong>275</strong> 6885 for an appointment or email:<br />
manager.Māngere@cab.org.nz<br />
FREE CLASSES IN MANGERE EAST<br />
The Māngere East Community Centre runs FREE and lowcost<br />
community education classes in te reo Māori, Samoan,<br />
English, sewing, literacy and numeracy, korowai and tukutuku,<br />
drivers licence theory, tai chi, zumba – and more! Visit www.<br />
mangereeast.org, email: fiona@mangereeast.org, ph. 09 <strong>275</strong><br />
6161 or drop in to the Centre at 372 Massey Road, Māngere<br />
East to find out more.<br />
ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT (A2E)<br />
Get assistance with your CV and connect with people who<br />
can help you in your search for a job. The A2E programme is<br />
a relaxed, informal, FREE session held in the Māngere Town<br />
Centre Library at 10:30am on Fridays. Meet other locals and<br />
hear from employers and training agencies. All ages and<br />
backgrounds welcome.<br />
CONTRIBUTORS WANTED<br />
We’d love to hear from local writers, photographers and anyone<br />
else interested in contributing to the <strong>275</strong> <strong>Times</strong>. Get in touch at<br />
www.facebook.com/<strong>275</strong>times or email <strong>275</strong><strong>Times</strong>@gmail.com<br />
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BUILDING &<br />
CARPENTRY<br />
Recreation<br />
& Sport<br />
NCEA<br />
Level 2<br />
Forces<br />
Pre-Entry<br />
Warehousing &<br />
Forklift Operations<br />
Automotive<br />
Don’t<br />
just dream it.<br />
BECOME IT!<br />
Fitness &<br />
Exercise<br />
Foundation<br />
Skills<br />
Community Notices are FREE for community groups. Send us a<br />
50-word summary of your group or event for the next issue!<br />
<strong>275</strong> times<br />
<strong>275</strong><br />
Māngere’s<br />
times<br />
Design: Belinda Fowler Editor: Roger Fowler<br />
Publisher: Māngere East Community Centre<br />
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