275 Times June 2017

EDITION #31
JUNE 2017
275
Māngere’s
times
275 times
Free!
Our stories, our people, our Māngere
Kōrero paki ō tatou, Tāngata ō tatou, Ngā Hau Māngere ō tatou
PREPARING FOR PARENTING
Father-to-be Glenn Tahana (left)
supports his partner Rosie by
putting the finishing touches
to their ipu whenua.
This is just one of the activities
offered during the ‘Mellow Bumps’
parenting course at Māngere
East Community Centre.
Run by Ohomairangi Trust,
the six-week antenatal course
aims to build resilience (kia
manawaroa) and attachment
between parents and their
unborn children. It covers
topics including the myths
of parenthood, nutrition
during pregnancy,
exercise, relaxation,
when baby is ready
to communicate,
being assertive, and
‘who do I trust?’
Rosie and Glenn are looking forward
to the arrival of their baby, and have
come away from Mellow Bumps with
some new ideas and skills, as well as
confirming traditions and ideas they
shared within the group. They are
proud of attending and of graduating.
“This course really helps,” says Rosie. “The
ipu whenua was new learning for me.”
“Learning how to say no – and mean it –
in different ways has helped me to be firm
with others,” says another mum-to-be. A
young dad agrees: “There were cool, fun
activities. It was a good experience – great
to prepare us for our daughter’s birth.”
Once all the babies from the group
arrive, the parents, babies and course
facilitators will get together for a
special ‘meet the babies lunch’.
See the Community Notices on page 8
for more information on Ohomairangi
Trust’s parenting programmes.
COMMUNITY ACTION GETS RESULTS
Faced with strong, sustained
opposition from the Māngere
Bridge community, Watercare
has finally dropped its plans to
erect a ventilation shaft on the
scenic Kiwi Esplanade domain.
The shaft would have allowed the
release of odours and wastewater
into the harbour. It was previously
promoted as essential for the
Central Interceptor project, however
Watercare has now declared that,
“after taking residents’ concerns on
board”, the vent is “not needed”.
Local resident Frances Hancock
reflects on the successful
community campaign:
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Watercare’s announcement that it
will not build the combined tunnel
access and ventilation shaft on Kiwi
Esplanade is a timely reminder of the
importance of community-led action.
In 2012−2013 the Māngere
Bridge community, through
its Residents and Ratepayers
Association, raised concerns about
the project, alongside others.
The construction of the proposed
shaft threatened to disrupt birdroosting
areas and detract from the
beauty of the Esplanade. Residents
were also concerned that it would
release smells during wet weather.
>> continued on page 2
Frances Hancock at the site
of the proposed Watercare vent on
Kiwi Esplanade, Māngere Bridge.
P2: Maramataka & Community Matariki Event P7: Waste-free Parenting

MARAMATAKA
Te Tahi o Pipiri (June) 2017
By Ayla Hoeta
This month we celebrate the
start of the Māori New Year.
Matariki is a time to get your
plans for the new year sorted
so you’re ready to roll when
the Kohurangi (Brachyglottis
Kirkii) flowers. That’s a sign to
kick into gear and start all your
new and wonderful projects.
High Energy days
ÍÍ8 June – Te Rakaunui
(Highest energy day)
ÍÍ9 June – Rakau matohi
Fishing days
ÍÍ15 June – Tangaroa a Mua
ÍÍ16 June – Tangaroa a Roto
ÍÍ17 June – Tangaroa Kiokio
Planting days
ÍÍ4 June – Mawharu
ÍÍ18 June – Otane (planting
day and give back to the forest)
ÍÍ29 June – Tamatea a Io
ÍÍ30 June – Tamatea Kai Ariki
Reciprocity/give back
& reflecting days
ÍÍ5 June – Atua
ÍÍ11 June – Oike
ÍÍ12 June – Korekore te Whiahia
ÍÍ13 June – Korekore te Rawea
As you become familiar with
the maramataka you will feel
more in tune with your natural
surrounding and enjoy the
rhythm of the maramataka and
nature. Have a great month!
If you would like a
maramataka dial visit 275
Times on Facebook, or
email me at ayla.hoeta@
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
COMMUNITY
Matariki
Event
By Olivia Chapman
Lead Hub Teacher, Te Kura
Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
Students from Te Kura Māori o
Ngā Tapuwae have teamed up
with Māngere East Community
Centre to host this year’s
Community Matariki Event.
The students from Ururangi
learning hub are excited to share
their knowledge of Matariki.
Many people have a lot of
misconceptions about Matariki.
For instance, some people don’t
know that it is more than just
a cluster of stars in the sky,
so the students are working
on projects based on Matariki
to display at the event.
The displays will be interactive
and fun, with games and samples
of traditional Māori kai on
offer. The students will also be
involved in preparing a hāngi,
and will kick of the event with a
traditional
pōwhiri.
Year 10 student Hamiora Tito from
Māngere East is looking forward
to meeting lots of new people. “I
know our community is culturally
diverse and I want to share my
knowledge with them so they can
go home and tell their families
about how important Matariki is,”
he says.
“WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE
WILL EMBRACE THIS
SPECIAL EVENT. WE
WANT EVERYONE TO
FEEL INCLUDED.”
“It’s an event for all, regardless
of race and culture, and we
hope that people will embrace
this special event. We want
everyone to feel included.”
The Community Matariki Event
will be held on
24 June in the
Māngere East
Hall (Metro
Theatre) 362
Massey Rd,
4pm – 8pm.
Planning for Matariki: Māngere East Community Centre Manager Hone Fowler (left) with
students from Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae. (Photo of Matariki constellation: NASA)
2
COMMUNITY ACTION GETS RESULTS >> cont. from page 1
Our main worry was the ecological
effects of transferring stormwater
from one catchment area (Western
Springs) to another (Māngere).
In particular, massive amounts
of stormwater flowing into the
treatment plant and increased
volumes of treated water pouring
into the Manukau Harbour. Experts
argue against combined sewage and
stormwater systems, we said. The
13-kilometre underground Central
Interceptor tunnel may offer a “quick
fix” but these concerns remain.
Five years on, I remember residents
collecting hundreds of signatures for
our carefully worded submissions,
community meetings, consultations
with Watercare and Auckland
Council, discussions with professional
advisers, collaborations with Manukau
Harbour Restoration Society and The
Onehunga Enhancement Society,
presentations at consent hearings
and interviews with reporters.
I especially remember longtime
Māngere Bridge residents, Roger
Baldwin, who died last year, and
Ken Duff and Brian Pilkington.
“Are we wasting our time?,” I asked
Roger once when our efforts
seemed hopeless. “No!” he said.
“We’re speaking out because we love
the harbour and the community,
and we care about what future
generations will inherit.”
Those were the commitments
we all shared. Our different
contributions were our strength.
Watercare’s announcement
reminds me that residents were
right to ask critical questions.
Doing everything we could to
influence decisions affecting our
environment made hope possible.
Looking back, we were constantly
creating hope through collective
community action. Our
efforts made a difference.

RAISING
AWARENESS
OF 22Q
By Ellen Fu’u fa’o uonuku
My family has a rare
genetic condition
called DiGeorge Syndrome.
I would like
to raise awareness of
the condition because
it is not well known
here in New Zealand.
DiGeorge is also
known as ‘22q’, which
is short for 22q11.2
Deletion Syndrome.
You might know that
people usually have 23
pairs of chromosomes
in their cells. In people
with DiGeorge, a tiny
piece of chromosome
22 is missing. This
affects us in different
ways. For example,
I need more time to
process information
than some people,
and I’ve had open
heart surgery from
six months old.
I am 21 this year. My
mum and I are now
the only people in
my family with the
syndrome. My aunty,
nana and cousin also
had the condition.
Sadly, they passed
away from poor health
and from DiGeorge.
Living with DiGeorge
syndrome has its
challenges and
moments – I do
daydream 24/7 – but
I love how it has
shaped us into the
people we are today.
I would like to thank
everyone who has
stood by my side
through thick and thin.
Volunteers re-vamp Village
Seventy-four hardy volunteers
gave up their Saturday morning
on May 6 to clean up and beautify
Māngere Bridge Village.
They washed windows, swept
leaves, painted walls, replanted
gardens, and picked up rubbish
– collectively donating over 240
hours to the clean-up effort.
The volunteers included Māngere
Bridge Village Manager Kate
Adams, members of the Fijian
community and Latter-Day
Saints, Project K participants
and local residents.
The event was organised by
the Manukau Beautification
Charitable Trust, which aims
to inspire civic pride.
Community Manager Barbara
Carney says “We are extremely
thankful for the volunteers who
gave up their Saturday morning.
Many hands make light work.”
The Māngere Bridge Village
clean-up was supported by
Auckland Council, Auckland
Transport, the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board and the Māngere
Bridge Business Association.
Help shape
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu’s
future
PRO2005_275T
We’re developing our Local Board Plan 2017 and want
to know what you think of the projects and outcomes
we propose to focus on over the next three years.
These include finalising upgrades of local parks, protecting
our natural environment and heritage, partnering with
others to boost the local economy as well as pushing for
coordinated planning and investment for a business and
community hub in Māngere East.
It’s easy to get involved and have your say. Just go online
to shapeauckland.co.nz to read our draft local board plan
and provide your feedback by 30 June 2017.
Come along to our pop up event below to find out more,
talk to Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board members
and give us feedback:
• Sunday 18 June, 8.30am-11.30am, Mangere Boutique
Market, Coronation Rd, Mangere Bridge Village.
Have your say by 4pm on Friday 30 June
For more information and to provide feedback visit shapeauckland.co.nz or your
local public library, service centre or phone Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board on 09 256 5133.
3

Come on,
Slow Down
for us
Community group members and Auckland Transport are working together to raise
awareness about the dangers to our community created by speeding on local roads
in the wider Māngere area. Local community members are fronting the campaign,
encouraging drivers to slow down and to look out for pedestrians and cyclists.
Everyone is encouraged to have a household conversation
about what speed is safe in different parts of our town.
“Come on, slow down bro”, says Georgina Tahana of the
Māngere Town Centre Maori Wardens, “think about others.”
We all know how to slow down, and it is about being aware
of everyone using the road space.
It’s great for adults as well as children to be out and about
on bikes or walking; getting exercise, seeing new things and
enjoying our community at a slower pace. So when we’re
driving, we need to think about who is around, needing to
cross the road or moving about on it. It is really important
that a car can stop quickly and not injure walkers or cyclists
if something goes wrong.
In the last five years in the Māngere area, 34 people had
to have emergency medical care because of crashes where
people were driving too fast for the conditions. It is not
only traumatising for them, but upsets their contribution to
family, work and community – sometimes for a long time.
Making the road safe is not just about the legal speed limit,
it is about slowing down to a speed where we can look out
for other people and stop in time. When a space is shared
between cars and pedestrians, then 60 km/hr is not safe.
The difference between 40 km/hr and 60 km/hr is huge if a
car hits a pedestrian or cyclist. At 60 km/hr the person hit
will probably die (for nine of 10 crashes), but at 40 km/hr it
is much less likely.
Slowing down is a great way for a driver to show they care
about the people around them in the community, such as
the Nga Iwi and Māngere Bridge school pupils that are
shown with their bikes in the campaign. It’s their community
too, and they need to get to school and friend’s place safely
every time. They love being on their bikes or scooters and
its good for them too!
Help make our roads safer. Being part of a community is
looking after each other. All crashes need to be reported
to the NZ Police, and road problems can be reported to
Auckland Transport AT.govt.nz/contactus
* New Zealand Transport Agency
4

ADVERTISEMENT
TOAST OF THE TOWN
After winning the NZ Toastmasters International
Speech Contest last month, Māngere resident
Joseph Fa’afiu will be heading to the world
champs in Vancouver, Canada in August.
Make your
practice count
Did you know that one
hour of driving practice
with a qualified driving
instructor can be as
valuable as 10 hours of
practice with a supervisor?
Behind the Wheel Māngere’s
qualified driving instructors
have seen first-hand
how practising with an
instructor can be key to
people passing their driving
tests and getting on the
roads as safer drivers.
Koia Teinakore, one of the
community instructors,
says “It’s the best thing they
can do. Their confidence
skyrockets when you
take them out to practise
driving. I think it’s about
teaching young people
the right habits from go.
I enjoy seeing people
achieve their goals, and it
means more than just the
driving part – it can be lifechanging
to get licensed.”
The Behind the Wheel’s
community instructors
can help you feel
more confident by:
ÊÊDrawing up a plan
to get you test-ready
ÊÊPractising driving with
you if you don’t have
anyone to practise with
ÊÊMeeting with you and
your supervisor to help
guide you with what
you need to practise
ÊÊHelping you master
the hard stuff (like
parallel parking and
talking about hazards)
ÊÊGetting rid of any
bad driving habits you
may have picked up
You can check the
instructors out on the
Behind the Wheel website
(behindthewheel.nz).
They offer low-cost
lessons, and payment
options are available.
Give them a call for a chat
about how they might be
able to help you get on
your way to being licensed!
Find out more at
www.behindthewheel.nz
or follow us on Facebook
@behindthewheelmangere
Joseph is a Pastor and
Director of HopeWalk
Suicide Prevention Trust.
He has been living in
Māngere with his wife and
five sons for five years.
Joseph told 275 Times
about his journey so far:
How did you get involved
in public speaking? A
friend invited me along
to Pacific Toastmasters in
2015 at the Māngere East
Community Centre. I found
it to be a great environment
to develop and to upskill in
the areas of public speaking
and leadership. I’m still a
member of the club, which
has since moved to Ōtara.
What’s the main thing
you’ve learned? We all
have stories, but what I
have learnt is that we must
make a point and leave
our listeners motivated to
change after hearing our
message. Speak not just to
inform, but to transform.
What was it like to win the
club, area, division and
district contests? What
was your motivation?
Overwhelming! I can’t
believe I’m flying to Canada
to represent New
Zealand. Each contest
had its little challenges,
but my motivation, as far
back as I can remember,
was to represent New
Zealand at something.
I was okay at rugby,
but knew I wasn’t good
enough to be an All Black.
But what I didn’t know is
that one day I would be
in a position to represent
New Zealand through
public speaking. It’s pretty
crazy, but I’m so humbled
and blessed to do so.
Was there a particular
challenge you overcame?
When I got to the contest
in Wellington – my nerves
didn’t control me, I had
control of them. Just a
few days earlier I was so
nervous heading into the
division competition, but
my wife Lydia said “You’ve
done this before; you
got this far.” I’m slowly
getting there in terms
of taming my nerves.
What do you hope to
achieve in Canada?
I’m looking forward
to being among over
140 countries and 116
competitors in the semifinal
round. If successful
in my semi, I’ll face
off against nine of the
best public speakers in
the world for 2017.
My hope is to make the
top 10, and if possible to
win and become the first
Polynesian to be crowned
World Champion of public
speaking. But if I don’t, I
will know I gave it my all.
How can people
support your world
championship quest?
We have a fundraising
page: www.indiegogo.
com/projects/worldchampionship-of-publicspeaking-2017#/
Let’s get licensed together!
Check out Behind the Wheel for awesome licensing
workshops and community instructors, to help you and
your whānau learn every stage of the licensing process!
@behindthewheelmangere
Find out more at
behindthewheel.nz
Māngere’s Joseph Fa’afiu is heading
to the World Championship of
Public Speaking in Vancouver,
Canada. (Photo: Frank Talo)
5

Above: Māngere East librarian
Melissa Manapori (left) receives
a copy of Maui the Sun Catcher
donated by legendary performer
Tigilau Ness.
For more information:
visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dogs
FREE* desexing for
registered menacing dogs
Text “YES” to 3169
or phone 0800 462 685
to apply
By Shirl’e Fruean
Txt 2 Desex is made possible through a grant from central
government as part of the national strategy to reduce the risk and
harm of dog attacks.
*Conditions apply
When I heard that Matua Tigilau Ness’ precious
Ovation guitar had been stolen, I was gutted.
A month later, when it still hadn’t been handed in, I
thought: “Now what? We can’t let this behaviour slide.
Is this how we want people to remember Māngere?”
We couldn’t keep waiting for the thief to do the right
thing, so I decided to organise a community jam at
Māngere East Library to raise money for a new guitar.
Despite having only two and a half weeks to prepare,
the fundraiser on 20 May was a great success. We salute
everyone who performed, volunteered and donated on
the day or on the Givealittle page.
*
Tigi says: “I was very happy at the
fundraiser for my replacement
guitar. Despite the wet weather,
the turnout was amazing.
“Many thanks to all the artists,
and to the host of friends and
family that came and supported
the cause. I was chuffed to
have my son Che Fu uber it
out from central to join his
sister and my three moko –
now that’s family support!
“And for my extended Māngere
East family, now I have nothing
but more love and respect.
You have banded together
to turn something negative
into something positive.
“How bizarre a stolen guitar
has shown this humble
grandfather who the real people
of the Māngere East southside
community are. I would like to
build on this wondrous act of
one love from the community.”
Tigilau and his band Unity
Pacific are currently working
on a new album. “You can
guarantee that our Māngere East
experience will be an inspiration
for a song or two,” says Tigi.
6

Waste-free Parenting
Babies bring lots of
joy and love into our
families, but these days
they also seem to create
a mountain of rubbish!
By Justine Skilling, Talking
Rubbish, ME Family Services
A week’s worth of stinky nappies
can fill up a black rubbish sack in no
time, and many families might be
wondering how they’re going to fit all
this into the red-lidded wheelie bins
that are coming to South Auckland
in June and July. Although our
rubbish magically disappears from the
kerbside every week, many people are
also disturbed to hear that the nappies
themselves stay in our landfills forever.
But it hasn’t always been that way.
Disposable nappies have actually
only been around for the past 30
years or so. Some of us might be old
enough to remember the old cloth
nappy squares, and all the soaking,
scrubbing and safety-pin injuries
that went with them. These days,
the cloth nappy is making a comeback,
but it’s better in every way.
Ranjani Prasad and Amy Taunga,
teachers at ME Family Services’
Early Childhood Education centre
have lots of experience with cloth
nappies. They’ve used them with their
own children at home and with the
many children they work with at the
centre. Both have taken advantage
of the nappy library available to
parents of children at the centre,
where a supply of cloth nappies
can be borrowed, to be returned
once they’re no longer needed.
Ranjani’s 2-year-old daughter
Jaanashi has been in cloth nappies
for over a year now. Ranjani opted
to use cloth nappies for the health
and wellbeing of her children. “They
feel more comfortable and have
no rashes using the cloth nappies.
This is because air can get in and
circulate,” she says. Ranjani finds the
modern cloth nappies “so convenient
and neatly presented”, compared
with the old white nappy squares
she used for her older child in Fiji.
Above: Modern cloth nappies drying in
the sun at Māngere East Family Services’
Early Childhood Education Centre.
She has 20 nappies in circulation, and
washes twice a week to make sure she
always has a fresh supply. Between
washes, the nappies are soaked in a
bucket with nappy sanitiser. While
this all takes a little extra time, she
says it’s part of the household routine
now, and she and her husband share
the load. “We think about our child’s
health, not the time it’s consuming”.
Cloth nappy converts: Ranjani Prasad
(left) with her daughter Jaanashi, and
Amy Taunga with son Simote (above)
use modern cloth nappies to save
money, do their bit for the planet and
help their children avoid nappy rash.
Amy started her cloth nappy journey
several years ago, when her first child
was born. Back then, finances were
tight, so cloth nappies, in the form
of the old white squares, were an
affordable option. More recently, Amy
attended a cloth nappy workshop
as part of her job and received a
pack of modern cloth nappies as
a gift when her son Simote was
born, to supplement the ones she
borrowed from the nappy library.
She reckons she’s saved roughly $20
a month using cloth nappies rather
than disposables and also found
her baby didn’t have trouble with
rashes, which she’s often seen with
disposables. “It’s better for bubba,”
says Amy. “Seeing the benefits of
using cloth nappies, in terms of saving
money, and also for the environment
made it really worthwhile for us”.
If you’re wanting to see whether
cloth nappies would work for you,
help is at hand. The Nappy Lady
(sponsored by Auckland Council) is
holding a workshop on Tuesday 13
June, 7–9.30pm at the Māngere East
Hall (Metro Theatre), 362 Massey
Rd, Māngere East to show people
how cloth nappies work and to give
families lots of tips on cutting down
waste (and saving money) at home.
There is a $10 registration fee, but
participants will receive $90 worth
of products to get them started on
their waste-free parenting journey.
To register, go to www.
thenappylady.co.nz, or contact
Kate on 027 221 1242.
7

Community Notices
OHOMAIRANGI TRUST – PARENTING SUPPORT
Whānau4whānau: 8–10 week parent-designed skillsdevelopment
programme. Starts in June.
Whakatōkia te Rongomau: 8-week non-violent parentingprogramme
building peaceful communities. Starts in June.
Hoki ki te Rito – Oranga Whānau/Mellow Parenting: 14-week
course on Mondays 9:30am to 2:30pm. Starts in August.
Incredible Years: 14-week parenting course start in August.
Morning and evening sessions.
Mellow Bumps: Next course starts in August.
Ohomairangi Trust offers these parenting courses at the
Māngere East Community Centre. For more information, email:
admin@ohomairangi.co.nz or ph. 09 263 0798.
FREE DE-SEXING FOR CATS: 12–23 JUNE
SPCA Auckland is working with local vets to offer FREE de-sexing
for cats. Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Cats and
kittens weighing 1kg or more can be de-sexed. Please call the
SPCA today on 09 256 7310 to book.
MUMA BBM BOOTCAMPS
Every Mon & Wed, 6.30am & 11am. Nga Whare Waatea Marae,
31 Calthorp Close. Open to all ages & fitness levels. For more
info contact: Donna Jean Tairi, Pou Hakinakina / Healthy
Lifestyles Coordinator, Manukau Urban Maori Authority, ph. 021
583 555 or 09 277 7866 or email: donna-jean@muma.co.nz
MATARIKI AT MANGERE BRIDGE LIBRARY
Rongoā Māori Medicine: Amber O’Neill presents a FREE Māori
medicine lore workshop, including native plant species and how
they’re used by Māori Rongoā practitioners today. Wednesday,
14 June, 10:30 – 12 noon. Refreshments will be served.
Matariki Storytime: FREE Matariki-themed pre-school Singa-long
Storytime with special performances from local preschools.
Friday, 16 June, 10:30 – 11:30am.
WASTE-FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP
A fun, inspirational workshop about reducing waste. Learn
about modern cloth nappies and other waste-free parenting
ideas and tips. Tuesday, 13 June, 7pm – 9:30pm at the Māngere
East Hall (Metro Theatre), 362 Massey Rd, Māngere East. Cost:
$10 (+ booking fee) individual or couple. Attendees get a wastefree
parenting pack that includes cloth nappies valued at $90.
Bookings essential. Ph or text Kate on 027 2211 242 or visit
thenappylady.co.nz
CONTRIBUTORS WANTED
We’d love to hear from local writers, photographers and anyone
else interested in volunteering for the 275 Times. Get in touch at
www.facebook.com/275times or email 275Times@gmail.com
Community Notices are FREE for community groups. Send us a
50-word summary of your group or event for the next issue!
275 times
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Māngere’s
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Design: Belinda Fowler Editor: Roger Fowler
Publisher: Māngere East Community Centre
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