275 Times June 2017
Mangere community news - 275 Times
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EDITION #31<br />
JUNE <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 />
PREPARING FOR PARENTING<br />
Father-to-be Glenn Tahana (left)<br />
supports his partner Rosie by<br />
putting the finishing touches<br />
to their ipu whenua.<br />
This is just one of the activities<br />
offered during the ‘Mellow Bumps’<br />
parenting course at Māngere<br />
East Community Centre.<br />
Run by Ohomairangi Trust,<br />
the six-week antenatal course<br />
aims to build resilience (kia<br />
manawaroa) and attachment<br />
between parents and their<br />
unborn children. It covers<br />
topics including the myths<br />
of parenthood, nutrition<br />
during pregnancy,<br />
exercise, relaxation,<br />
when baby is ready<br />
to communicate,<br />
being assertive, and<br />
‘who do I trust?’<br />
Rosie and Glenn are looking forward<br />
to the arrival of their baby, and have<br />
come away from Mellow Bumps with<br />
some new ideas and skills, as well as<br />
confirming traditions and ideas they<br />
shared within the group. They are<br />
proud of attending and of graduating.<br />
“This course really helps,” says Rosie. “The<br />
ipu whenua was new learning for me.”<br />
“Learning how to say no – and mean it –<br />
in different ways has helped me to be firm<br />
with others,” says another mum-to-be. A<br />
young dad agrees: “There were cool, fun<br />
activities. It was a good experience – great<br />
to prepare us for our daughter’s birth.”<br />
Once all the babies from the group<br />
arrive, the parents, babies and course<br />
facilitators will get together for a<br />
special ‘meet the babies lunch’.<br />
See the Community Notices on page 8<br />
for more information on Ohomairangi<br />
Trust’s parenting programmes.<br />
COMMUNITY ACTION GETS RESULTS<br />
Faced with strong, sustained<br />
opposition from the Māngere<br />
Bridge community, Watercare<br />
has finally dropped its plans to<br />
erect a ventilation shaft on the<br />
scenic Kiwi Esplanade domain.<br />
The shaft would have allowed the<br />
release of odours and wastewater<br />
into the harbour. It was previously<br />
promoted as essential for the<br />
Central Interceptor project, however<br />
Watercare has now declared that,<br />
“after taking residents’ concerns on<br />
board”, the vent is “not needed”.<br />
Local resident Frances Hancock<br />
reflects on the successful<br />
community campaign:<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE:<br />
Watercare’s announcement that it<br />
will not build the combined tunnel<br />
access and ventilation shaft on Kiwi<br />
Esplanade is a timely reminder of the<br />
importance of community-led action.<br />
In 2012−2013 the Māngere<br />
Bridge community, through<br />
its Residents and Ratepayers<br />
Association, raised concerns about<br />
the project, alongside others.<br />
The construction of the proposed<br />
shaft threatened to disrupt birdroosting<br />
areas and detract from the<br />
beauty of the Esplanade. Residents<br />
were also concerned that it would<br />
release smells during wet weather.<br />
>> continued on page 2<br />
Frances Hancock at the site<br />
of the proposed Watercare vent on<br />
Kiwi Esplanade, Māngere Bridge.<br />
P2: Maramataka & Community Matariki Event P7: Waste-free Parenting
MARAMATAKA<br />
Te Tahi o Pipiri (<strong>June</strong>) <strong>2017</strong><br />
By Ayla Hoeta<br />
This month we celebrate the<br />
start of the Māori New Year.<br />
Matariki is a time to get your<br />
plans for the new year sorted<br />
so you’re ready to roll when<br />
the Kohurangi (Brachyglottis<br />
Kirkii) flowers. That’s a sign to<br />
kick into gear and start all your<br />
new and wonderful projects.<br />
High Energy days<br />
ÍÍ8 <strong>June</strong> – Te Rakaunui<br />
(Highest energy day)<br />
ÍÍ9 <strong>June</strong> – Rakau matohi<br />
Fishing days<br />
ÍÍ15 <strong>June</strong> – Tangaroa a Mua<br />
ÍÍ16 <strong>June</strong> – Tangaroa a Roto<br />
ÍÍ17 <strong>June</strong> – Tangaroa Kiokio<br />
Planting days<br />
ÍÍ4 <strong>June</strong> – Mawharu<br />
ÍÍ18 <strong>June</strong> – Otane (planting<br />
day and give back to the forest)<br />
ÍÍ29 <strong>June</strong> – Tamatea a Io<br />
ÍÍ30 <strong>June</strong> – Tamatea Kai Ariki<br />
Reciprocity/give back<br />
& reflecting days<br />
ÍÍ5 <strong>June</strong> – Atua<br />
ÍÍ11 <strong>June</strong> – Oike<br />
ÍÍ12 <strong>June</strong> – Korekore te Whiahia<br />
ÍÍ13 <strong>June</strong> – Korekore te Rawea<br />
As you become familiar with<br />
the maramataka you will feel<br />
more in tune with your natural<br />
surrounding and enjoy the<br />
rhythm of the maramataka and<br />
nature. Have a great month!<br />
If you would like a<br />
maramataka dial visit <strong>275</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong> on Facebook, or<br />
email me at ayla.hoeta@<br />
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Matariki<br />
Event<br />
By Olivia Chapman<br />
Lead Hub Teacher, Te Kura<br />
Māori o Ngā Tapuwae<br />
Students from Te Kura Māori o<br />
Ngā Tapuwae have teamed up<br />
with Māngere East Community<br />
Centre to host this year’s<br />
Community Matariki Event.<br />
The students from Ururangi<br />
learning hub are excited to share<br />
their knowledge of Matariki.<br />
Many people have a lot of<br />
misconceptions about Matariki.<br />
For instance, some people don’t<br />
know that it is more than just<br />
a cluster of stars in the sky,<br />
so the students are working<br />
on projects based on Matariki<br />
to display at the event.<br />
The displays will be interactive<br />
and fun, with games and samples<br />
of traditional Māori kai on<br />
offer. The students will also be<br />
involved in preparing a hāngi,<br />
and will kick of the event with a<br />
traditional<br />
pōwhiri.<br />
Year 10 student Hamiora Tito from<br />
Māngere East is looking forward<br />
to meeting lots of new people. “I<br />
know our community is culturally<br />
diverse and I want to share my<br />
knowledge with them so they can<br />
go home and tell their families<br />
about how important Matariki is,”<br />
he says.<br />
“WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE<br />
WILL EMBRACE THIS<br />
SPECIAL EVENT. WE<br />
WANT EVERYONE TO<br />
FEEL INCLUDED.”<br />
“It’s an event for all, regardless<br />
of race and culture, and we<br />
hope that people will embrace<br />
this special event. We want<br />
everyone to feel included.”<br />
The Community Matariki Event<br />
will be held on<br />
24 <strong>June</strong> in the<br />
Māngere East<br />
Hall (Metro<br />
Theatre) 362<br />
Massey Rd,<br />
4pm – 8pm.<br />
Planning for Matariki: Māngere East Community Centre Manager Hone Fowler (left) with<br />
students from Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae. (Photo of Matariki constellation: NASA)<br />
2<br />
COMMUNITY ACTION GETS RESULTS >> cont. from page 1<br />
Our main worry was the ecological<br />
effects of transferring stormwater<br />
from one catchment area (Western<br />
Springs) to another (Māngere).<br />
In particular, massive amounts<br />
of stormwater flowing into the<br />
treatment plant and increased<br />
volumes of treated water pouring<br />
into the Manukau Harbour. Experts<br />
argue against combined sewage and<br />
stormwater systems, we said. The<br />
13-kilometre underground Central<br />
Interceptor tunnel may offer a “quick<br />
fix” but these concerns remain.<br />
Five years on, I remember residents<br />
collecting hundreds of signatures for<br />
our carefully worded submissions,<br />
community meetings, consultations<br />
with Watercare and Auckland<br />
Council, discussions with professional<br />
advisers, collaborations with Manukau<br />
Harbour Restoration Society and The<br />
Onehunga Enhancement Society,<br />
presentations at consent hearings<br />
and interviews with reporters.<br />
I especially remember longtime<br />
Māngere Bridge residents, Roger<br />
Baldwin, who died last year, and<br />
Ken Duff and Brian Pilkington.<br />
“Are we wasting our time?,” I asked<br />
Roger once when our efforts<br />
seemed hopeless. “No!” he said.<br />
“We’re speaking out because we love<br />
the harbour and the community,<br />
and we care about what future<br />
generations will inherit.”<br />
Those were the commitments<br />
we all shared. Our different<br />
contributions were our strength.<br />
Watercare’s announcement<br />
reminds me that residents were<br />
right to ask critical questions.<br />
Doing everything we could to<br />
influence decisions affecting our<br />
environment made hope possible.<br />
Looking back, we were constantly<br />
creating hope through collective<br />
community action. Our<br />
efforts made a difference.
RAISING<br />
AWARENESS<br />
OF 22Q<br />
By Ellen Fu’u fa’o uonuku<br />
My family has a rare<br />
genetic condition<br />
called DiGeorge Syndrome.<br />
I would like<br />
to raise awareness of<br />
the condition because<br />
it is not well known<br />
here in New Zealand.<br />
DiGeorge is also<br />
known as ‘22q’, which<br />
is short for 22q11.2<br />
Deletion Syndrome.<br />
You might know that<br />
people usually have 23<br />
pairs of chromosomes<br />
in their cells. In people<br />
with DiGeorge, a tiny<br />
piece of chromosome<br />
22 is missing. This<br />
affects us in different<br />
ways. For example,<br />
I need more time to<br />
process information<br />
than some people,<br />
and I’ve had open<br />
heart surgery from<br />
six months old.<br />
I am 21 this year. My<br />
mum and I are now<br />
the only people in<br />
my family with the<br />
syndrome. My aunty,<br />
nana and cousin also<br />
had the condition.<br />
Sadly, they passed<br />
away from poor health<br />
and from DiGeorge.<br />
Living with DiGeorge<br />
syndrome has its<br />
challenges and<br />
moments – I do<br />
daydream 24/7 – but<br />
I love how it has<br />
shaped us into the<br />
people we are today.<br />
I would like to thank<br />
everyone who has<br />
stood by my side<br />
through thick and thin.<br />
Volunteers re-vamp Village<br />
Seventy-four hardy volunteers<br />
gave up their Saturday morning<br />
on May 6 to clean up and beautify<br />
Māngere Bridge Village.<br />
They washed windows, swept<br />
leaves, painted walls, replanted<br />
gardens, and picked up rubbish<br />
– collectively donating over 240<br />
hours to the clean-up effort.<br />
The volunteers included Māngere<br />
Bridge Village Manager Kate<br />
Adams, members of the Fijian<br />
community and Latter-Day<br />
Saints, Project K participants<br />
and local residents.<br />
The event was organised by<br />
the Manukau Beautification<br />
Charitable Trust, which aims<br />
to inspire civic pride.<br />
Community Manager Barbara<br />
Carney says “We are extremely<br />
thankful for the volunteers who<br />
gave up their Saturday morning.<br />
Many hands make light work.”<br />
The Māngere Bridge Village<br />
clean-up was supported by<br />
Auckland Council, Auckland<br />
Transport, the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu<br />
Local Board and the Māngere<br />
Bridge Business Association.<br />
Help shape<br />
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu’s<br />
future<br />
PRO2005_<strong>275</strong>T<br />
We’re developing our Local Board Plan <strong>2017</strong> and want<br />
to know what you think of the projects and outcomes<br />
we propose to focus on over the next three years.<br />
These include finalising upgrades of local parks, protecting<br />
our natural environment and heritage, partnering with<br />
others to boost the local economy as well as pushing for<br />
coordinated planning and investment for a business and<br />
community hub in Māngere East.<br />
It’s easy to get involved and have your say. Just go online<br />
to shapeauckland.co.nz to read our draft local board plan<br />
and provide your feedback by 30 <strong>June</strong> <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Come along to our pop up event below to find out more,<br />
talk to Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board members<br />
and give us feedback:<br />
• Sunday 18 <strong>June</strong>, 8.30am-11.30am, Mangere Boutique<br />
Market, Coronation Rd, Mangere Bridge Village.<br />
Have your say by 4pm on Friday 30 <strong>June</strong><br />
For more information and to provide feedback visit shapeauckland.co.nz or your<br />
local public library, service centre or phone Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board on 09 256 5133.<br />
3
Come on,<br />
Slow Down<br />
for us<br />
Community group members and Auckland Transport are working together to raise<br />
awareness about the dangers to our community created by speeding on local roads<br />
in the wider Māngere area. Local community members are fronting the campaign,<br />
encouraging drivers to slow down and to look out for pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
Everyone is encouraged to have a household conversation<br />
about what speed is safe in different parts of our town.<br />
“Come on, slow down bro”, says Georgina Tahana of the<br />
Māngere Town Centre Maori Wardens, “think about others.”<br />
We all know how to slow down, and it is about being aware<br />
of everyone using the road space.<br />
It’s great for adults as well as children to be out and about<br />
on bikes or walking; getting exercise, seeing new things and<br />
enjoying our community at a slower pace. So when we’re<br />
driving, we need to think about who is around, needing to<br />
cross the road or moving about on it. It is really important<br />
that a car can stop quickly and not injure walkers or cyclists<br />
if something goes wrong.<br />
In the last five years in the Māngere area, 34 people had<br />
to have emergency medical care because of crashes where<br />
people were driving too fast for the conditions. It is not<br />
only traumatising for them, but upsets their contribution to<br />
family, work and community – sometimes for a long time.<br />
Making the road safe is not just about the legal speed limit,<br />
it is about slowing down to a speed where we can look out<br />
for other people and stop in time. When a space is shared<br />
between cars and pedestrians, then 60 km/hr is not safe.<br />
The difference between 40 km/hr and 60 km/hr is huge if a<br />
car hits a pedestrian or cyclist. At 60 km/hr the person hit<br />
will probably die (for nine of 10 crashes), but at 40 km/hr it<br />
is much less likely.<br />
Slowing down is a great way for a driver to show they care<br />
about the people around them in the community, such as<br />
the Nga Iwi and Māngere Bridge school pupils that are<br />
shown with their bikes in the campaign. It’s their community<br />
too, and they need to get to school and friend’s place safely<br />
every time. They love being on their bikes or scooters and<br />
its good for them too!<br />
Help make our roads safer. Being part of a community is<br />
looking after each other. All crashes need to be reported<br />
to the NZ Police, and road problems can be reported to<br />
Auckland Transport AT.govt.nz/contactus<br />
* New Zealand Transport Agency<br />
4
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
TOAST OF THE TOWN<br />
After winning the NZ Toastmasters International<br />
Speech Contest last month, Māngere resident<br />
Joseph Fa’afiu will be heading to the world<br />
champs in Vancouver, Canada in August.<br />
Make your<br />
practice count<br />
Did you know that one<br />
hour of driving practice<br />
with a qualified driving<br />
instructor can be as<br />
valuable as 10 hours of<br />
practice with a supervisor?<br />
Behind the Wheel Māngere’s<br />
qualified driving instructors<br />
have seen first-hand<br />
how practising with an<br />
instructor can be key to<br />
people passing their driving<br />
tests and getting on the<br />
roads as safer drivers.<br />
Koia Teinakore, one of the<br />
community instructors,<br />
says “It’s the best thing they<br />
can do. Their confidence<br />
skyrockets when you<br />
take them out to practise<br />
driving. I think it’s about<br />
teaching young people<br />
the right habits from go.<br />
I enjoy seeing people<br />
achieve their goals, and it<br />
means more than just the<br />
driving part – it can be lifechanging<br />
to get licensed.”<br />
The Behind the Wheel’s<br />
community instructors<br />
can help you feel<br />
more confident by:<br />
ÊÊDrawing up a plan<br />
to get you test-ready<br />
ÊÊPractising driving with<br />
you if you don’t have<br />
anyone to practise with<br />
ÊÊMeeting with you and<br />
your supervisor to help<br />
guide you with what<br />
you need to practise<br />
ÊÊHelping you master<br />
the hard stuff (like<br />
parallel parking and<br />
talking about hazards)<br />
ÊÊGetting rid of any<br />
bad driving habits you<br />
may have picked up<br />
You can check the<br />
instructors out on the<br />
Behind the Wheel website<br />
(behindthewheel.nz).<br />
They offer low-cost<br />
lessons, and payment<br />
options are available.<br />
Give them a call for a chat<br />
about how they might be<br />
able to help you get on<br />
your way to being licensed!<br />
Find out more at<br />
www.behindthewheel.nz<br />
or follow us on Facebook<br />
@behindthewheelmangere<br />
Joseph is a Pastor and<br />
Director of HopeWalk<br />
Suicide Prevention Trust.<br />
He has been living in<br />
Māngere with his wife and<br />
five sons for five years.<br />
Joseph told <strong>275</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
about his journey so far:<br />
How did you get involved<br />
in public speaking? A<br />
friend invited me along<br />
to Pacific Toastmasters in<br />
2015 at the Māngere East<br />
Community Centre. I found<br />
it to be a great environment<br />
to develop and to upskill in<br />
the areas of public speaking<br />
and leadership. I’m still a<br />
member of the club, which<br />
has since moved to Ōtara.<br />
What’s the main thing<br />
you’ve learned? We all<br />
have stories, but what I<br />
have learnt is that we must<br />
make a point and leave<br />
our listeners motivated to<br />
change after hearing our<br />
message. Speak not just to<br />
inform, but to transform.<br />
What was it like to win the<br />
club, area, division and<br />
district contests? What<br />
was your motivation?<br />
Overwhelming! I can’t<br />
believe I’m flying to Canada<br />
to represent New<br />
Zealand. Each contest<br />
had its little challenges,<br />
but my motivation, as far<br />
back as I can remember,<br />
was to represent New<br />
Zealand at something.<br />
I was okay at rugby,<br />
but knew I wasn’t good<br />
enough to be an All Black.<br />
But what I didn’t know is<br />
that one day I would be<br />
in a position to represent<br />
New Zealand through<br />
public speaking. It’s pretty<br />
crazy, but I’m so humbled<br />
and blessed to do so.<br />
Was there a particular<br />
challenge you overcame?<br />
When I got to the contest<br />
in Wellington – my nerves<br />
didn’t control me, I had<br />
control of them. Just a<br />
few days earlier I was so<br />
nervous heading into the<br />
division competition, but<br />
my wife Lydia said “You’ve<br />
done this before; you<br />
got this far.” I’m slowly<br />
getting there in terms<br />
of taming my nerves.<br />
What do you hope to<br />
achieve in Canada?<br />
I’m looking forward<br />
to being among over<br />
140 countries and 116<br />
competitors in the semifinal<br />
round. If successful<br />
in my semi, I’ll face<br />
off against nine of the<br />
best public speakers in<br />
the world for <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
My hope is to make the<br />
top 10, and if possible to<br />
win and become the first<br />
Polynesian to be crowned<br />
World Champion of public<br />
speaking. But if I don’t, I<br />
will know I gave it my all.<br />
How can people<br />
support your world<br />
championship quest?<br />
We have a fundraising<br />
page: www.indiegogo.<br />
com/projects/worldchampionship-of-publicspeaking-<strong>2017</strong>#/<br />
Let’s get licensed together!<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 />
@behindthewheelmangere<br />
Find out more at<br />
behindthewheel.nz<br />
Māngere’s Joseph Fa’afiu is heading<br />
to the World Championship of<br />
Public Speaking in Vancouver,<br />
Canada. (Photo: Frank Talo)<br />
5
Above: Māngere East librarian<br />
Melissa Manapori (left) receives<br />
a copy of Maui the Sun Catcher<br />
donated by legendary performer<br />
Tigilau Ness.<br />
For more information:<br />
visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dogs<br />
FREE* desexing for<br />
registered menacing dogs<br />
Text “YES” to 3169<br />
or phone 0800 462 685<br />
to apply<br />
By Shirl’e Fruean<br />
Txt 2 Desex is made possible through a grant from central<br />
government as part of the national strategy to reduce the risk and<br />
harm of dog attacks.<br />
*Conditions apply<br />
When I heard that Matua Tigilau Ness’ precious<br />
Ovation guitar had been stolen, I was gutted.<br />
A month later, when it still hadn’t been handed in, I<br />
thought: “Now what? We can’t let this behaviour slide.<br />
Is this how we want people to remember Māngere?”<br />
We couldn’t keep waiting for the thief to do the right<br />
thing, so I decided to organise a community jam at<br />
Māngere East Library to raise money for a new guitar.<br />
Despite having only two and a half weeks to prepare,<br />
the fundraiser on 20 May was a great success. We salute<br />
everyone who performed, volunteered and donated on<br />
the day or on the Givealittle page.<br />
*<br />
Tigi says: “I was very happy at the<br />
fundraiser for my replacement<br />
guitar. Despite the wet weather,<br />
the turnout was amazing.<br />
“Many thanks to all the artists,<br />
and to the host of friends and<br />
family that came and supported<br />
the cause. I was chuffed to<br />
have my son Che Fu uber it<br />
out from central to join his<br />
sister and my three moko –<br />
now that’s family support!<br />
“And for my extended Māngere<br />
East family, now I have nothing<br />
but more love and respect.<br />
You have banded together<br />
to turn something negative<br />
into something positive.<br />
“How bizarre a stolen guitar<br />
has shown this humble<br />
grandfather who the real people<br />
of the Māngere East southside<br />
community are. I would like to<br />
build on this wondrous act of<br />
one love from the community.”<br />
Tigilau and his band Unity<br />
Pacific are currently working<br />
on a new album. “You can<br />
guarantee that our Māngere East<br />
experience will be an inspiration<br />
for a song or two,” says Tigi.<br />
6
Waste-free Parenting<br />
Babies bring lots of<br />
joy and love into our<br />
families, but these days<br />
they also seem to create<br />
a mountain of rubbish!<br />
By Justine Skilling, Talking<br />
Rubbish, ME Family Services<br />
A week’s worth of stinky nappies<br />
can fill up a black rubbish sack in no<br />
time, and many families might be<br />
wondering how they’re going to fit all<br />
this into the red-lidded wheelie bins<br />
that are coming to South Auckland<br />
in <strong>June</strong> and July. Although our<br />
rubbish magically disappears from the<br />
kerbside every week, many people are<br />
also disturbed to hear that the nappies<br />
themselves stay in our landfills forever.<br />
But it hasn’t always been that way.<br />
Disposable nappies have actually<br />
only been around for the past 30<br />
years or so. Some of us might be old<br />
enough to remember the old cloth<br />
nappy squares, and all the soaking,<br />
scrubbing and safety-pin injuries<br />
that went with them. These days,<br />
the cloth nappy is making a comeback,<br />
but it’s better in every way.<br />
Ranjani Prasad and Amy Taunga,<br />
teachers at ME Family Services’<br />
Early Childhood Education centre<br />
have lots of experience with cloth<br />
nappies. They’ve used them with their<br />
own children at home and with the<br />
many children they work with at the<br />
centre. Both have taken advantage<br />
of the nappy library available to<br />
parents of children at the centre,<br />
where a supply of cloth nappies<br />
can be borrowed, to be returned<br />
once they’re no longer needed.<br />
Ranjani’s 2-year-old daughter<br />
Jaanashi has been in cloth nappies<br />
for over a year now. Ranjani opted<br />
to use cloth nappies for the health<br />
and wellbeing of her children. “They<br />
feel more comfortable and have<br />
no rashes using the cloth nappies.<br />
This is because air can get in and<br />
circulate,” she says. Ranjani finds the<br />
modern cloth nappies “so convenient<br />
and neatly presented”, compared<br />
with the old white nappy squares<br />
she used for her older child in Fiji.<br />
Above: Modern cloth nappies drying in<br />
the sun at Māngere East Family Services’<br />
Early Childhood Education Centre.<br />
She has 20 nappies in circulation, and<br />
washes twice a week to make sure she<br />
always has a fresh supply. Between<br />
washes, the nappies are soaked in a<br />
bucket with nappy sanitiser. While<br />
this all takes a little extra time, she<br />
says it’s part of the household routine<br />
now, and she and her husband share<br />
the load. “We think about our child’s<br />
health, not the time it’s consuming”.<br />
Cloth nappy converts: Ranjani Prasad<br />
(left) with her daughter Jaanashi, and<br />
Amy Taunga with son Simote (above)<br />
use modern cloth nappies to save<br />
money, do their bit for the planet and<br />
help their children avoid nappy rash.<br />
Amy started her cloth nappy journey<br />
several years ago, when her first child<br />
was born. Back then, finances were<br />
tight, so cloth nappies, in the form<br />
of the old white squares, were an<br />
affordable option. More recently, Amy<br />
attended a cloth nappy workshop<br />
as part of her job and received a<br />
pack of modern cloth nappies as<br />
a gift when her son Simote was<br />
born, to supplement the ones she<br />
borrowed from the nappy library.<br />
She reckons she’s saved roughly $20<br />
a month using cloth nappies rather<br />
than disposables and also found<br />
her baby didn’t have trouble with<br />
rashes, which she’s often seen with<br />
disposables. “It’s better for bubba,”<br />
says Amy. “Seeing the benefits of<br />
using cloth nappies, in terms of saving<br />
money, and also for the environment<br />
made it really worthwhile for us”.<br />
If you’re wanting to see whether<br />
cloth nappies would work for you,<br />
help is at hand. The Nappy Lady<br />
(sponsored by Auckland Council) is<br />
holding a workshop on Tuesday 13<br />
<strong>June</strong>, 7–9.30pm at the Māngere East<br />
Hall (Metro Theatre), 362 Massey<br />
Rd, Māngere East to show people<br />
how cloth nappies work and to give<br />
families lots of tips on cutting down<br />
waste (and saving money) at home.<br />
There is a $10 registration fee, but<br />
participants will receive $90 worth<br />
of products to get them started on<br />
their waste-free parenting journey.<br />
To register, go to www.<br />
thenappylady.co.nz, or contact<br />
Kate on 027 221 1242.<br />
7
Community Notices<br />
OHOMAIRANGI TRUST – PARENTING SUPPORT<br />
Whānau4whānau: 8–10 week parent-designed skillsdevelopment<br />
programme. Starts in <strong>June</strong>.<br />
Whakatōkia te Rongomau: 8-week non-violent parentingprogramme<br />
building peaceful communities. Starts in <strong>June</strong>.<br />
Hoki ki te Rito – Oranga Whānau/Mellow Parenting: 14-week<br />
course on Mondays 9:30am to 2:30pm. Starts in August.<br />
Incredible Years: 14-week parenting course start in August.<br />
Morning and evening sessions.<br />
Mellow Bumps: Next course starts in August.<br />
Ohomairangi Trust offers these parenting courses at the<br />
Māngere East Community Centre. For more information, email:<br />
admin@ohomairangi.co.nz or ph. 09 263 0798.<br />
FREE DE-SEXING FOR CATS: 12–23 JUNE<br />
SPCA Auckland is working with local vets to offer FREE de-sexing<br />
for cats. Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Cats and<br />
kittens weighing 1kg or more can be de-sexed. Please call the<br />
SPCA today on 09 256 7310 to book.<br />
MUMA BBM BOOTCAMPS<br />
Every Mon & Wed, 6.30am & 11am. Nga Whare Waatea Marae,<br />
31 Calthorp Close. Open to all ages & fitness levels. For more<br />
info contact: Donna Jean Tairi, Pou Hakinakina / Healthy<br />
Lifestyles Coordinator, Manukau Urban Maori Authority, ph. 021<br />
583 555 or 09 277 7866 or email: donna-jean@muma.co.nz<br />
MATARIKI AT MANGERE BRIDGE LIBRARY<br />
Rongoā Māori Medicine: Amber O’Neill presents a FREE Māori<br />
medicine lore workshop, including native plant species and how<br />
they’re used by Māori Rongoā practitioners today. Wednesday,<br />
14 <strong>June</strong>, 10:30 – 12 noon. Refreshments will be served.<br />
Matariki Storytime: FREE Matariki-themed pre-school Singa-long<br />
Storytime with special performances from local preschools.<br />
Friday, 16 <strong>June</strong>, 10:30 – 11:30am.<br />
WASTE-FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP<br />
A fun, inspirational workshop about reducing waste. Learn<br />
about modern cloth nappies and other waste-free parenting<br />
ideas and tips. Tuesday, 13 <strong>June</strong>, 7pm – 9:30pm at the Māngere<br />
East Hall (Metro Theatre), 362 Massey Rd, Māngere East. Cost:<br />
$10 (+ booking fee) individual or couple. Attendees get a wastefree<br />
parenting pack that includes cloth nappies valued at $90.<br />
Bookings essential. Ph or text Kate on 027 2211 242 or visit<br />
thenappylady.co.nz<br />
CONTRIBUTORS WANTED<br />
We’d love to hear from local writers, photographers and anyone<br />
else interested in volunteering for 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 />
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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www.facebook.com/<strong>275</strong>times<br />
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www.<strong>275</strong>times.com 09 <strong>275</strong> 6161<br />
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