275 Times September 2017

EDITION #34
SEPTEMBER 2017
275
Māngere’s
times
275 times
Our stories, our people, our Māngere
Kōrero paki ō tatou, Tāngata ō tatou, Ngā Hau Māngere ō tatou
IHUMĀTAO
Campaign:
U.N. Calls
For Review
Free!
The United Nations’
Committee on the
Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (CERD)
has criticised the
NZ Government’s
process in setting up
a Special Housing
Area at Ihumātao and
called for a review
of the designation.
Pania Newton addresses the UN Committee on
the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva, Switzerland.
The UN Committee’s call comes after
Pania Newton and Delwyne Roberts
of Ihumātao travelled to Switzerland
in August to brief CERD on the
simmering Māngere land dispute.
The pair represented SOUL (Save
Our Unique Landscape), the mana
WHAT’S INSIDE:
whenua-led community group that
is fighting Fletcher Residential
Limited’s plan to build 480 highcost
homes on confiscated Māori
land near Auckland Airport.
CERD’s strongly worded
recommendation urges the
NZ Government to “review, in
consultation with all affected
Māori, the designation of Special
Housing Area 62 to evaluate its
conformity with the Treaty of
Waitangi, the U.N. Declaration on
>> continued on page 2
P3: Maramataka P4: Get ready to VOTE P7: Backyard Garden Challenge

Ihumātao Campaign: U.N. Calls for Review
Left: Delwyne Roberts and Pania Newton
(SOUL) during a break at the Geneva talks, with
Dr Heather Came-Friar (AUT, STIR, Tāmaki Tiriti
Workers), and NZ Race Relations Commissioner,
Dame Susan Devoy.
mentioned the word ‘racism’. We’re
here to look at the Government’s
compliance in relation to eliminating
all forms of racial discrimination,
yet they can’t say the ‘R’ word.”
>> continued from page 1
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and
other relevant international standards,
and that the [Government] obtain
the free and informed consent of
Māori before approving any project
affecting the use and development of
their traditional land and resources.”
For Pania, it’s a very important
outcome: “It’s heartening that a UN
body, at an international level like
this, has recognised our issue and
the significance of the whenua at
Ihumātao. This is huge,” she says.
“Now the Government must be
compelled to take action, review
its designation, and adequately
work with the parties affected by
the proposed development.”
Government response criticised
Pania reports that the issue of the
Ihumātao land dispute was raised
several times during the CERD
formal meetings by a number
of committee members.
She says it was clear from the
responses given by the NZ
Government’s representatives that they
“were out of their depth, and behind
the ball on eliminating racism in NZ.
“They were obviously taken aback
by the number of times Ihumātao
was raised by committee members
and could not adequately address
the issues regarding Fletchers’
proposed development.
“WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL
FLETCHERS RETREAT AND
THE LAND IS PRESERVED
AS AN OPEN GREEN SPACE.”
“I was appalled by this, and the fact
that their assumptions were backed
by no evidence whatsoever. After the
presentation we approached them;
they apologised and asked us to
send them the correct information.”
Delwyne noted: “[The NZ Government]
delegates claimed that
‘consultation’ had occurred, but as UN
Special Rapporteur Gay McDougall
stated, consultation is not the same
as consent. The delegates’ answers
were superficial and unsubstantiated”.
AUT lecturer Dr Heather Came-Friar,
who was also at Geneva, said: “The
New Zealand Government has not
Support from many quarters
Although Pania is disappointed to
have had “to go to the world stage to
achieve this fundamental recognition,
and have our plea for more just
democratic processes heard”, she
and Delwyne have been heartened
by the support they’ve received
in the fight to save Ihumātao.
“I am so grateful and proud of all our
supporters of the SOUL campaign
to protect Ihumātao. We could not
have gone this far without your
aroha and tautoko,” she says.
She has also been “amazed by
the amount of support and
encouragement received from the NZ
Race Relations Commissioner, Dame
Susan Devoy. It makes this process
a bit easier to navigate through”.
Pania, Delwyne and SOUL are vowing
to fight on. “We have taken our issue
to the UN in New York, the World
Indigenous Peoples Conference in
Toronto, and now CERD in Geneva.
We will not stop until Fletchers
retreat and the land is preserved as
an open green space,” Pania says.
Readers who want to support
the SOUL campaign can visit
www.soulstopsha.org or email:
saveihumatao@gmail.com
2
NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD
TREASURE TROVE
MEFSC's Georgina Kelly Ngatoko (right) helps
find new homes for property left at Auckland Airport.
ME Family Services Centre
is redistributing lost and
forgotten treasures back into
the Māngere community.
Since August, the Centre has been
collecting and re-homing clothes,
shoes, bags, pillows, walking
sticks, books and other property
left behind at Auckland Airport by
forgetful – or generous – travellers.
It’s a new way for the Centre
to support families in Māngere,
and extend the life of useful
items at the same time .
If you’d like to have a look at the
latest donations, call MEFSC’s
Resource Recovery Coordinator
Georgina Kelly Ngatoko on 09
280 3379 between 9am and
3pm weekdays, or send her a
message on Facebook: @MEFSC.
There is a catch, though.
As Georgina says: “Everything is
negotiable, but nothing is free.
So come and be prepared to trade
something – your cash, your time,
your talents, or your networks!”

Going up!
Manukau City AFC celebrates back-to-back promotions
After winning the Northern
Regional Football League
(NRFL) Division 2 competition
in 2016, Manukau City AFC
Men’s First Team has now
secured a promotion from
Division 1 to Premier League
for the 2018 season.
The team, which is based at
Walter Massey Park in Māngere
East, sealed the promotion
on 26 August, with a 1–0 win
at home over championship
hopefuls Melville United FC.
It’s been another
stand-out year for
the club, with the
men’s promotion
coming just a week
after the Women’s
First Team were
crowned champions
of the Women’s
Championship
Division.
Top: Manukau City AFC Men’s First Team celebrate their promotion to the
Premier League. (Photo: Ron Sinha) Inset: The club’s Women’s First Team
are this year’s AFF/NFF Women’s Championship Division winners.
MARAMATAKA: Mahuru (September)
Kia ora whānau, it’s Mahuru
(September) – a time for regrowth,
rebirth and renewal.
Traditionally, this was the time
for looking after young animals
and planting kai, so it was
the busiest time of the year.
Our tohu this month are all
indicators of spring. Here’s
what to look out for:
Ngā tohu o te rangi
(Signs in the sky)
The star Te Kakau (Regulus)
appears, and Whakaahu
Kerekere and Whakaahu Rangi
(Castor and Pollux) are still
visible in the eastern sky.
Ngā tohu o te whenua
(Signs on land)
We usually see the puawānanga
(clematis) blossom
in Mahuru, but this year it
blossomed six weeks early.
Kaumatua suggest that this
means something is changing
in the environment.
Ngā tohu o te moana
(Signs in the water)
Another name for this time
of year is ‘Te ahunga o
uruao’ which means ‘the
new generation of whitebait’.
This ancient name reflects
the tohu o te moana for
Mahuru, which – just like last
month – is the white bait.
White bait will continue
running throughout Mahuru,
so look forward to seeing more
yummy photos on Facebook!
Have a great month, whānau.
And remember: if you want
your own maramataka
dial, just message us on
Facebook @275times or
email: 275times@gmail.com
Key dates
PLANTING DAYS
6, 7 & 8 Sept:
Oturu, Rakaunui
& Rakau Ma Tohi
– Great time to
plant watery crops
9 Sept: Takirau –
Plant root crops
14 & 15 Sept: Tangaroa
A Mua & Tangaroa A
Roto – Plant root crops
18, 19 & 20 Sept:
Orongonui, Omauri
& Mutuwhenua –
Plant root crops
26, 27, 28 & 29 Sept:
Tamatea A Ngana,
Tamatea A Hotu,
Tamatea A Io &
Tamatea Kai Ariki –
Plant everything!
Puawānanga (Photo: Avenue)
OTHER KEY DATES
5, 6 & 7 Sept: Oturu,
Rakaunui & Rakau
Ma Tohi – High
energy days
11, 12 & 13 Sept:
Korekore Te Whiawhia,
Korekore Te Rawea
& Korekore Piri
– Reflecting and
low-energy days
14, 15 & 16 Sept:
Tangaroa A Mua,
Tangaroa A Roto
& Tangaroa Kiokio
– Fishing days
3

SOMETHING WORTH
The election is coming
up fast! Saturday, 23
September is Election Day.
That’s when we’ll get
to choose the people
who will make the
big decisions about
our health, transport,
housing and education
for the next three years.
So, what’s important to you? Is
there a party you think will best
represent your ideas and values?
Which candidate do you think will
do the best job of representing us?
The 275 Times team went to
the Māngere Markets to ask
people how they feel about
the upcoming election.
What’s my vote going to do?
Via, a 26 year old, was frustrated
that other young people didn’t
seem bothered about voting.
“The young ones have this mentality
of – you know, ‘oh, what’s my
vote gonna do?’ When really, all
of them put together could turn
it one way or the other. I think
they’re just not seeing it.”
Sadly, Via is right. The Electoral
Commission recently reported that
around 450,000 people were still not
registered to vote. Worryingly, over
half of those people are under 30.
How do you choose?
Speaking to Carla, an 18-year-old
living in Māngere, we discovered
that she didn’t know that there
was an election this year.
“I don’t get it? Voting for who
exactly? I’m just not
These online tools might
help you as you’re thinking
about your choice:
• y http://onthefence.co.nz/
• y http://policy.thespinoff.co.nz/
• y https://votecompass.tvnz.co.nz/
4
Above: Denise has missed out on voting in the past, but she’s ready to vote this year.
bothered because I just don’t
know about it,” she said.
Do you feel like this too? It can be
hard to make decisions without
the information you need. Try
searching the internet, have a look
at some of the online tools listed
on this page, or talk to friends
and family about the election.
Busy on 23 September?
Vote early!
Denise (pictured above) is
determined to use her vote
this year. In the past, when
her children were little she
sometimes missed out on voting.
She had young twins and it was difficult
to find someone to watch them so
she could go to the voting place.
If you, like Denise, might find it
hard to get to a polling place on
23 September – Election Day
– think about voting early.
Voting actually starts on Monday,
11 September and you can vote
early at the Māngere Arts Centre.
Let YOUR voice be heard
Voting gives each of us an equal
opportunity to tell the politicians

VOTING FOR!
TOP TIPS TO MAKE
YOUR VOTE
COUNT THIS YEAR:
If you’re already enrolled
• y You can vote on election
day – Saturday 23 Sept 2017.
• y Find your nearest voting
place at www.elections.org.nz
• y OR You can vote early from
Monday 11 September at
the Māngere Arts Centre.
• y You'll get an EasyVote
card in the mail. Take it
with you to make voting
quicker. If you forget your
card – don’t worry, you’ll
still be able to vote.
Above: Philippa makes sure she’s on the electoral role.
“THE YOUNG ONES HAVE THIS MENTALITY OF – YOU
KNOW, ‘OH, WHAT’S MY VOTE GONNA DO?’ WHEN REALLY,
ALL OF THEM PUT TOGETHER COULD TURN IT ONE WAY
OR THE OTHER. I THINK THEY’RE JUST NOT SEEING IT.”
what’s important to us, our
whānau and our community.
Alan, who has just become a
permanent resident, is now
entitled to enrol and to vote.
“I’ve been calling Māngere East
home for 7 years now and I’m
If you're not
enrolled yet,
it’s NOT too late.
Check out our
tips for making
a special
vote.
very excited about being able to
vote for the first time,” he says.
“I feel that this electorate needs
to engage more in the voting
process. By being enrolled to vote
and voting we’ll be able to build
the voice that this area needs.”
If you haven’t enrolled yet
• y DON’T PANIC! You can make a
special vote. It’ll take a tiny bit
longer, but it will be worth it!
• y The easiest thing to do is
visit the Māngere Arts Centre
from Monday 11 September.
There you’ll be able to enrol
and vote at the same time.
But you’ll need to do this
BEFORE election day.
• y OR you can call the
elections team on 0800 36
76 56. They will help you get
enrolled so you can vote.
At the voting place:
• y You’ll be given a voting paper.
• y You get two votes. That
means you get to put TWO
ticks on the voting paper.
• y Your party vote is for the
party you prefer. Vote
for only ONE party.
• y Your electorate vote is for
the candidate you would
like to be your Member
of Parliament (MP).
• y If you only complete the party
vote, or only complete the
candidate vote, it will still count.
• y If you make a mistake
– don’t worry – just tell
the staff. They’ll give you
a new voting paper.
5

6
Queen Shirl’e: Living my dream
This multi-talented lady has been bringing
us stories about Māngere’s artists for almost
a year, so we thought it was time she told us
a bit more about herself. Meet Queen Shirl’e...
By Shirl’e Fruean
My passion for performing
arts began way back in
preschool in Samoa.
After moving to Māngere I
joined my primary school’s
Māori culture group and
attended my first noho
at Ngā Tapuwae school
marae, where I learned
to embrace Aotearoa as
my new home – despite
the language barrier.
I also played guitar at
our local church, sang
in the youth choir and
took part in productions
for White Sundays.
When our family moved
to ’Rewa, I went back
to my roots and joined
Weymouth Intermediate’s
Samoan cultural showcase.
My fav’ experience
was performing at the
Auckland Town Hall – I
felt like a real star!
Around the same time, I
entered the school talent
quest and won a free
recording session at OMAC
(Ōtara Music Arts Centre).
Starting to write
At high school, I discovered
a whole new
love for writing stories.
One of my poems was
even published in the
school magazine.
As my skills developed
I joined the South
Auckland writers group,
where I was encouraged
to enter a writing
competition alongside
50 other local authors.
When Ali Cowley, the
creative animation director
for Bro'Town sat beside
me for our final exam, I
thought I had no chance,
but to my surprise I made
the top 10 and had my
short story ‘A Peaceful
Assurance’ published.
Hip hop & emceeing
Hip hop was my other
passion. Rap music was
a way to express myself
creatively. I released three
EPs and music videos as an
indie artist with the help of
family and friends. Then in
2012 I won an NZ On Air
grant to shoot and record
my single ‘Humanity’.
I was honoured to be the
first female emcee from
Māngere to receive this
grant – especially because
hip-hop is traditionally a
male-dominated industry.
Teaching – & learning!
I wanted to inspire
more young people
from South Auckland
to follow their dreams
like I had, so I started
my own performing
arts classes in 2006.
Amanda Ashton, a young
girl from Māngere, was
one of my first students.
She later became a TV
presenter for Māori TV and
now runs her own film
and make-up business.
Seeing Amanda’s
transformation made me
even more determined
to teach, and I took on
a full-time position as a
Kāwai Raupapa performing
arts tutor at Te Wānanga
o Aotearoa in Māngere.
This position required
proper qualifications,
so I also studied hard
to earn a Diploma in
Adult Education.
Looking forward
It can be challenging
trying to get by as a single
parent when you have
a big dream, but I know
anything is possible if
you set goals and work
hard to achieve them.
This year, the Māngere-
Ōtāhuhu Local Board
gave me a certificate
of appreciation for my
voluntary work, which
includes writing for,
and supporting, the
275 Times. Alongside
Creative Communities
and OMYG (Ōtāhuhu
Māngere Youth Group)
they also helped me to
kick start my Pathways
to Performing Arts afterschool
programme at
the Ōtāhuhu Library.
Feedback from the
course has been fantastic,
and now Onehunga
and Māngere libraries
are requesting my
programme, too!
I’ll also be hosting the
NZ Hip Hop Summit at
Toia (Ōtāhuhu Recreation
Centre) on 25 November.
See you there!
nzhiphopsummit.com

One hundred Ma – ngere families
are being given the chance to
start backyard gardens as part
of the ‘My Backyard Garden
Project – Ma – ngere Challenge’.
By Justine Skilling
Talking Rubbish, ME Family Services
Brent Mags, the organiser of My
Backyard Garden Project (MBGP), is
passionate about gardening and the
benefits of growing our own food.
He launched the project last year in
West Auckland, gathering together
the resources and people-power
to build and set up 52 gardens in
backyards and community spaces.
Since then, two more challenges
have been activated: one in Rotorua
and another in Waitakere, with almost
150 more gardens being installed.
Now the project is coming
to the food bowl of Tāmaki
Makaurau: Māngere.
Māngere challenge
The Māngere challenge is being
hosted by Papatūānuku Kōkiri
Marae in Robertson Rd, with
support from Love Food Hate
Waste, Pacific Vision Aotearoa,
Compost Collective, Te Puni Kōkiri,
The Southern Initiative, Healthy
Families Manukau, and Māngere
Connect-Neighbourhood Support.
“MBGP has always wanted to come
to South Auckland, and having an
ongoing connection with Therese
Mangos [Pacific Vision Aotearoa/
Compost Collective] and Matua
Rereata Makiha [The Southern
Initiative and Society for Māori
Astronomy Research & Traditions],
as well as a solid foundation
with Papatūānuku Marae, has
made it possible,” says Brent.
The passionate and ever-growing
organising team has been meeting
weekly for the past month and
has held some productive Sunday
working bees to get the materials
ready for building the gardens.
A new way of thinking & eating
Papatūānuku Marae’s Lionel Hotene
is excited about the project, because
it aligns beautifully with the vision
of Marae-founder Nanny Mere.
“We believe food is the catalyst for
change. If we want whānau in our
community to be healthy physically
and mentally,
then let’s
provide the
knowledge
and resources
for them to be able
to take control and grow
their own food,” says Lionel.
“When we get our families
involved in growing food, then food
can become medicine and medicine
become food. This is what we call
an edible education,” he says.
“BY UNDERSTANDING
THE WORLD OF GROWING
KAI, WE CAN ALL MAKE
MORE EDUCATED AND
INFORMED DECISIONS
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
PUTTING IN OUR WAHA.”
The marae wants to help whānau
take control of their oranga, their
hauora. “By understanding the world
of growing kai, we can all make more
educated and informed decisions
about what we are putting in our
waha. We can create a new way of
thinking and eating – actually an old
way of thinking and living – through
this garden project,” says Lionel.
MA – NGERE’S
BACKYARD
GARDEN
CHALLENGE
Below: Organisers of Māngere’s My Backyard Garden Project prepare
to build raised garden beds out of pallets at Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae.
Get your family growing!
Families who want to participate in
the project must live in the Māngere
area and commit to attending
workshops on Saturday 9 & Sunday
10 September, where they’ll build
raised garden beds from old pallets
and learn about composting,
‘lasagne gardening’, Maramataka
(gardening by the moon), seed
raising, seedling planting and how
to use the produce they grow.
The project is free and participants
will receive their own raised garden
bed, compost bin and ongoing
support to get them growing.
To register your backyard, or to
volunteer your time or resources,
please contact: Brent Mags – ph.
021 029 10004, Therese Mangos
– ph. 021 905 961 or Valerie
Teraitua – ph. 027 2561472.
7

Community Notices
FREE COMMUNITY DAY - SAT 9 SEPT
FREE food, clothing, entertainment, services, workshops &
childrens' play. 10am–2pm at Metro Theatre, Massey Rd,
Mangere East. Find more details on the Facebook event page:
‘Free Community Day, by AigaWahineToa & NewMoney’.
MA – NGERE EAST LIBRARY – WHAT’S ON
FREE Knitting & Craft Club: 10:30am every Thursday. Bring
your knitting or craft projects, or simply drop by for a cup of tea
and a chat. Make new friends; learn a new hobby. All welcome.
FREE Wriggle & Rhyme – Active Movement to Music: 11am
every Tuesday. Fun and interactive sessions to help develop baby’s
brain and body. For babies and toddlers up to two years old. Older
siblings also welcome. For more info, ph. 09 275 5420 or drop in to
the Māngere East Library at 370 Massey Rd, Māngere East.
MA – NGERE BRIDGE LIBRARY – WHAT’S ON
September is Comic Book Month! Take out three comics or
graphic novels at once and go into the FREE draw to win a fun
hamper at the end of the month! All ages welcome.
Superhero Storytime: Dress up as your favourite comic book
character and join in the FREE fun at Superhero Storytime on Sat
30 Sept at 11am. Lots of stories, songs and laughter for children
and their families. For more info, ph. 09 636 6797 or email:
Mangerebridge.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
COMMUNICARE FRIENDSHIP CENTRES
Seniors looking for a regular get-together among friends are
invited to visit their local Communicare Friendship Centres at
Māngere/Ōtāhuhu Netball Centre, 1 Court Close, Māngere, or
Methodist Church Hall, Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe. The first visit is
free. Ph. 09 631 5968 or email: office@communicare.org.nz
FREE PARENTING SUPPORT
Mellow Bumps: Next free course for expectant parents starts
soon! For more information, email: admin@ohomairangi.co.nz
or ph. 09 263 0798. This course is run by Ohomairangi Trust at
the Māngere East Community Centre.
FREE CLASSES IN MA – NGERE EAST
Māngere East Community Centre runs FREE and low-cost
community education classes in te reo Māori, Samoan, English,
sewing, literacy and numeracy, korowai and tukutuku, drivers
licence theory, tai chi, zumba – and more! Visit www.mangereeast.
org, email: fiona@mangereeast.org, ph. 09 275 6161 or drop in to
the Centre at 372 Massey Road, Māngere East to find out more.
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
275
Māngere’s
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Design: Belinda Fowler Editor: Roger Fowler
Publisher: Māngere East Community Centre
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