EDITION #40

APRIL 2018

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

On Saturday 24th March 2018 in the

Mangere Town Centre, Otara Health

Charitable Trust celebrated the

inaugural launch of the Active Futures

programme in the Mangere Community.

A variety of free fun activities were on

display on the day which included face

painting; Zumba Swagg; Photo Booth and

an Amazing Race around the Mangere

Town Centre. A lucky family who took

part in the Amazing Race won a fantastic

Toaletai Faumuina David Tua with he team from Otara Health

Charitable Trust’s ACTIVE FUTURES PROGRAM (photo supplied)

Active Futures comes to town

family prize pack filled with healthy

breakfast products, fruit & vegetables

and an awesome family sports

pack that included a signed pair of

boxing gloves by a Son of Mangere

– Toaletai Faumuina David Tua.

He endorsed the importance of

providing our tamariki/ tamaiti with

good nutrition and physical activity,

to grow into a healthy body weight.

A flash mob was planned and

executed as a fun way of

demonstrating how dance/

movement is a fun activity

continued page 4

WHAT’S INSIDE: MABUHAY! From De La Salle College

---

EDITORIAL

2

Talofa

Bucket List

grabs!

Recently one of

our 275 Times

condtributors -

Ernestina Bonsu Maro, made

the decision to skydive to

celebrate her 16th (*cough

cough) birthday. This local

daredevil diva, whom you all

know represented the Cook

Islands at last years Miss Pacific

Pageant in Fiji, has become the

epitome of “Living Life to the

fullest”.

One of the biggest barriers to

being able to “Live My Life to

its fullest” has been my weight.

While I’ve learned to Be Happy

with me, there is always that

wondering thought (as I pull

out my mirror so that I can see

my toes) of how much more

I could do in my life if I was in

good shape and actively fit.

Our community is no stranger

to fitness programs. This worldwide

healthy living trend is

constantly in our faces thanks

to social media. So, welcoming

the Otara Health-Charitable

Trust’s ACTIVE FUTURES

program to Mangere was easypeasy

thank you Sioeli.

Cost of good healthy food

is continuing to rise. For

some of us, it’s already out of

reach. Slap on the impending

fuel tax and the everyday

struggle will be real indeed.

Keep your heads up!

We welcome your feedback

1. What do you like about

275 Times magazine?

2. What would you like to

see featured in your local

monthly magazine?

Email us at

275Times@gmail.com

Hermann

Tuataga Hermann Arp Jr

Editor

A ‘Fiddler’s tale of th

Best friends Tia Ormsby and Mya Pritchard have a good reason to hang

out together more often. Both girls, 11, are in the Manukau Performing Arts

production of Fiddler on the Roof. Although this is not their first show together,

what makes this one special is they will be playing the same character

‘Bielke’, in an alternating child cast. They are happy because “we can share

what we need to know” and “we can give eachother tips” they announce.

Fiddler on the Roof, a musical with success on Broadway and West

End, will be at Papatoetoe’s Spotlight Theatre donning 32 kiwi actors,

directed by Regan Crummer. Set in Russia in 1905, the story is based

on Tevye, father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family

traditions amidst outside influences, which is relevant to many walks of

life today. Mya reflects a message from the story “follow your heart; just

because there are certain traditions, you can still decide your own future”.

Bielke, Tevye’s youngest daughter is “cheeky, really enthusiastic and

she looks up to her older sisters”, says Tia, something both girls can relate

to and with the cast and crew supporting their experience by making it “fun

and welcoming”. Both girls love their new theatre family, “everybody is pretty

crazy just like us and they always have a smile on their face” says Mya.

Make

Ella’s

dream a

reality

by Ernestina Bonsu-Maro

Bold, Beautiful and

Energetic. Meet 4 year old

Ella she defines courage,

Ella was born with some

difficulties one of them

unable to walk, her

extraordinary mother Kat

has gone beyond measures

fundraising, eeking

sponsors, Dinner and Raffles

you name it she has done

it all. Kat has definitely

contributed and networked

with many people to

get Ella walking again.

An official fundraising

event for Ella will be held on

the 15th April. Proceeds will

go towards a life changing

surgery for her to be able

---

e two Bielke’s

Tia Ormsby and Mya Pritchard

(photo by Tawera Ormsby)

Manukau Performing Arts also brings together our deaf

community, by collaborating with a dedicated team to provide

interpretation to one show per season. This is a highlight

for Tia and Mya as they have learnt some NZ sign language

and have a greater understanding for their deaf friends.

The musical is suitable for all the family, with tickets

already sold to four generations. “It has some songs

people won’t realise they already know” Tia points

out, “and some pretty funny lines” Mya adds.

Fiddler on the Roof

Papatoetoe Spotlight Theatre

21st April – 5th May

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2018/apr/fiddler-on-the-roof

Director – Regan Crummer

Musical Director – Edwin Randall

Choreographer – Zoe Gilmore

to walk again. In order for

her dream to become a

reality, one of the goals is

to set the World Record for

the most fairies in one area.

If you would like to know

more about Ella’s upcoming

fundraiser visit their Facebook

page https://www.

facebook.com/fairysteps4ella

if you will like to donate or

help and you are free on the

15th of April come along

with your family & friends to

a awesome event all for our local girl

Ella. Remember to dress up as a Fairy.

Most Fairies World Record Re-Attempt

#TEAMELLA

#MANGERE 275

#South Auckland

Lemauga Lydia

Sosene:

Chair of the

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu

Local Board

Don’t let the cold put a damper on

enjoying our area

Kia ora, talofa lava and warm greetings from all of us at the Local Board.

With winter just around

the corner, it can be a bit

disheartening knowing the

days are going to be shorter

and the nights will be colder.

It can be especially

concerning if your home gets

a bit damp and draughty. But

here at the local board, we’re

keen to do our bit to ensure

your family can be healthy as

well as having plenty to do

to to bring people together.

One such initiative is the

Healthy Rentals scheme.

Thanks to funding from

the local board, this project

provides support for tenants

and landlords to create warmer,

drier rentals. Successful

applicants get free resources,

advice and installations

of LED bulbs, hot water

cylinder wraps, thermostat

controllers and curtains. To

find out what you’re eligible

for; search ‘healthy rentals’

at aucklandcouncil.govt.

nz for more information.

Our local board area is also

hosting a number of great

events this month. There’s the

Toia Summer Food & Craft

festival in Ōtāhuhu on April

4, there’s the hugely popular

Harcourts Family Music Festival

in Māngere Bridge on April 8.

On Anzac Day there are

a number of civic services

and parades throughout the

region and you get times

and details at our website:

ourauckland.nz/anzacday.

We are also fortunate to

have the Pop coming to

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu which is

all about creating fun things

to do in our neighbourhoods

and includes interactive

activities like ping pong,

marbles and cycling. Go to

facebook.com/pg/popakl/

events/ for all the details.

To stay up with all that’s

happening in our area,

make sure you follow our

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board

Facebook page: facebook.

com/mangereotahuhu

Manuia,

Lemauga Lydia Sosene

Chair of the Māngere-

Ōtāhuhu Local Board

3

---

It’s Mangere’s turn to AFu (Active Futures)

continued from page one

enjoyed by all ages together.

Families were encouraged to

have their 4 year olds complete

a B4 School Health Check with

either Plunket or a Well Child

provider before they start school.

Local business, Countdown

Mangere Mall & Airport Mangere,

The Warehouse Airport Mangere,

Hubbard Foods collectively

contributed

free water, fruit

and prizes.

Local health

providers such

as Moana Nui

A Kiwa; Turuki

Health; Family

Fit Club; Pacific

Early Learning

Mobile Outreach

Service; Census

NZ; Family Teeth

Matters were on

board to share

their resources

and information.

Active Futures collaborated with

local Dance Group Te Ao Moana

who provided beautiful cultural

dances from the Cook Islands.

What is Active Futures?

The Active Futures service is a

comprehensive family based

nutrition, activity, lifestyle and

parenting skills programme for

pre-school children in Counties

Manukau who are identified as

obese at their B4 School Check.

Active participants (photo supplied)

The service supports families

to make and sustain a range

of lifestyle changes that will

have long lasting benefits to

their health and wellbeing.

The Active Futures programme is

a brand new service in Mangere.

Our team of Health Facilitators

work alongside parents, offering

families the opportunity to engage

in a FREE home based and group

based programme over 12 months

enabling them to be their child’s

first health and wellbeing coach!

The programme is for children

aged 3-5 year old from

Counties Manukau. Support

is provided through weekly

sessions on Physical Activity,

Nutrition, Parenting & Lifestyle.

A consenting parent/caregiver

must be able to attend each

session with their child.

For more information contact

Family Based Services

Coordinator Maddi Schmidt|

maddi@otarahealth.org.nz|

027 274 8005| 09 274 8355

4

---

STUDENT VOICE

MABUHAY!

DE LA SALLE

Teenagers of the Southside so often bear the

brunt of their own scrutiny. Merely living in South

Auckland betokens “the struggle is real”. Albeit due

to the magnified media portrayal of our people,

my perception of being poor was extraordinarily

incorrect – finding out for

myself walking through

the trails of litter, through

formidable humidity, through

little hands out reaching

for my bag. I was walking

through Tondo, one of the

Philippines’ most notorious

ghettos – that saw no way

of escaping her poverty.

In early December 2017,

following thousands of

dollars of fundraising, fruitful

immersion into cultures

other than our own and

months of eager anticipation,

myself along with 17 of my

fellow Lasallian brothers

boarded a flight from Hong

Kong en route to Manila,

Philippines. Our 3-day

stop there would mark the

beginning of a stupendous

adventure I will remember

for the rest of my life. We

went to the Philippines

with a readiness to give

back to the people, and so we did that mahi.

There we plastered & landscaped the makings of

multiple homes, shared hours of bonding with

kindergarten-aged children, their families and

neighbourhoods, met face-to-face with convicted

prisoners among many other outreach activities.

Service, a term discussed to us at school for so many

years and without scripture meant virtually nothing,

even we went into the community to do such a thing

– now had substance.

It was the interaction,

hype and prosperity

that us teenagers of

the Southside were

now exposed to

some 8,000km away

from the “brown

bubble” that is.

I attribute my

changed view on

the South Auckland

struggle to the everso

merry heart of the

Filipino. Mahal kita. If

I learnt anything from

who I met along the

way of our outreach,

it was to live.

By Mariner

Fagaiava-Muller

Hands around the land - Hei purupuru i te whenua

Two years ago, in March 2016,

the people of Tāmaki-makaurau

showed their support for

the people of Ihumātao in their

struggle to protect their ancestral

land from the /Fletcher Residential

‘development”. Hundreds joined

hands around the land.

Fletcher Building is still sticking

to its ill-conceived plans to

build 480 housing units on

the land at Ihumātao.

Now it is time for the people

to show Fletcher Residential,

(and the Council, and the

Government), that this beautiful

landscape must be saved from

destruction, and protected for

future generations under the

mana of its tāngata whenua.

Support the people of Ihumātao

and join Hands around the Land,

2018. Hei pupuru i te whenua!

Some of the many community

leaders who have spoken up to save

the land: Kaumatua Joe Hawke and

Haare Williams, Māngere MP and

Minister of Pasifika Affairs, Aupito

William Si’o, Green MP Marama

Davidson, City Councillors

Cathy Casey, Mike Lee and Efiso

Collins, as well as Lemauga

Lydia Sosene, Māngere-Otāhuhu

Local board and many more.

Help heal the wound that was

opened in 1863 when the land

was confiscated, a wound

was re-opened when Fletcher

Residential bought the land in

2016, ignoring the opposition

of mana whenua, and the

people of South Auckland. 5

---

MANGERE APPRECIATION SONG

By Shirl’e Fruean

“Gatorway Music”. If you have not heard of them, you need to get

familiar. They are an underground rap group who all grew up in Mangere,

with 8 members in the group (Cloud, Lanz, Kere Kenz,Teck2daDash,

Dillz, Benge, Rico Reigns & Wings ) one could only describe

them as a true product of their environment & music.

I had seen a music video of their “Mangere

Appreciation Song” floating around on Facebook and

I instantly felt a connection. However, It was their fun

g-funk style track ‘Gwalk” that got me bumping my head

& grooving along, I thought they were dope, especially

putting their own music out there independently.

A couple of months later they popped back up while I was

judging a song competition that was hosted by Flava radio station

alongside Hayden Hare (Content Director of Flava radio ) and Ty

(Smashproof). Though it was very difficult to decide, because there

were so many great songs, there was this one track that stood out

the most, Something genuine, intriguing in their voices and lyrics.

Their subtle aggressiveness & pride describing

upbringing and the urgency of breaking into the music

industry, something i could relate too, Luckily the other judges

agreed in the end this crew were named the winners.

I also discovered they had a self-made music video clip to their “Emergency” song that was shot in a guerrilla

film style, it had a raw grimy street feel to it that gave me such an appreciation for them as young Hip-hoppers.

Gatorway music will be performing at Kiwi Spirit bar in Rotorua. Then on to building their record label

as well as recording,staying as active on the music scene as they can. They can be found on Facebook,

IG , SnapChat, Sound Cloud and YouTube. Support local artists making something out of nothing.

hanau

oha

We care about

FAMILY

one organisation, many services.

we'd love to help out!

pariv

aiga

MARAMATAKA:

Paengawhāwhā (April)

By Ayla Hoeta

Kia ora whānau welcome to Paengawhāwhā

(April) the eleventh lunar month of the

year! This marama (month) is a great

time to get the gardens ready for winter

crops and also get your fishing days in

around Tangaroa days. Our kaumatua say

the animal activity begin to slow down

as they sense the coming of winter.

KEY DAYS TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR

LOW ENERGY DAYS:

love

6

ECE Centres of the highest

quality (20hrs free ECE*)

Experienced, qualified staff

from many backgrounds

Reliable, affordable After-

School Care

Over 10 Years in

community

kaing

Creative, structured

Holiday Programmes

Regular Fathers & Kids

events

SuperGrans programme

for local mums

Community Playgroup

FREE Van pick-ups

201 Buckland Road, Mangere & 18A Mervan St, Mangere

goodseedtrust www.goodseedtrust.co.nz (09) 275-1065

7, 8 and 9 April – Tangaroa A Mua, Tangaroa

A Roto and Tangaroa kiokio (fishing and

planting days) can be described also as more

fruitful days. There’s lots of ika to catch and

kai flourishes when planted on these days. On

these fruitful days it’s also a better time to sort

any raru or issues you might have as there

is a greater chance of a positive outcome!

11, 12 and 13 April – Orongonui, Omauri

and Mutuwhenua: Planting all types of kai.

14 April – Whiro: Lowest energy day

and best to reflect rest and plan. This is

also a good night to torch for eels.

Thanks whānau!

---

Tararata Stream

TALKING RUBBISH

by Justine Skilling

“The Tararata Streamwhere’s

that?”, asked

one of my born-andbred-in-Mangere

colleagues, when I

told her about my next

275 Times assignment.

Streams are the hidden

gems of our city

neighbourhoods, channelling water from our

streets out to the harbour and creating habitat

for a multitude of plants, birds, fish, insects and

people. They play a vital role in our ecosystem,

but do we treat them with the respect and care

they deserve and need? Do we even know they’re

there? I decided to spend an afternoon with

the Tararata Stream Team to find out more.

Hidden behind houses between Bader Dr

and Hall Ave in Mangere, the stream can be

reached at Moyle Park, or at entrances off

Elmdon St and at the end of Hinau Rd. I catch

up with the Stream Team as they emerge

through a gate in the fence of a neighbouring

house. Armed with sampling nets, buckets and

microscopes, the small team of dedicated locals

are here to check the water quality and see what

creatures they can spot in the stream today.

Stream neighbours (Sarah, Helen, Beau,

Cody and Catherine) and their dog are having

fun, spotting inanga and eels in the stream and

cooling off from the blazing sun. Several other

neighbourhood children are hanging over their

back fences and poking around near the water.

Looking downstream towards Mangere Mountain,

it feels as though we’re out in the countryside.

The stream was a great resource for Maori,

a source of freshwater and abundant fish”, says

Julia. “It links us to the sea, with tidal water

coming up as far as Hinau Rd. Fish and birds

move between stream and harbour. Shortfin

eels, to the delight of children, still come from

the ocean - Moana Nui a Kiwa - in spring, and

some live here for 50 years or so before leaving

New Zealand forever to lay their eggs deep in

the ocean. Little inanga come downstream to

the tidal area in February and March to lay their

eggs in the grass. Their babies will spend the

winter in the Manukau Harbour, and come up

our stream in spring as whitebait”, explains Julia.

There’s still life in the stream, but it certainly

needs some love. Local resident Tere Arere

got involved last year, after receiving a letter

inviting her to a planting session down at the

stream. She’s concerned about the amount

of rubbish being dumped in and around the stream and

the potential for flooding that this creates. Long-time

stream kaitiaki Maurice Sinclair is also concerned. He’s

down at the stream most days, pulling supermarket

trolleys of rubbish out of the stream and clearing away

the waterweed that’s building up on the silty stream bed.

Human actions can have a detrimental impact on

stream life, but the Stream Team remains positive. They

see the potential for the stream to be a place for the

Ways to get involved:

•Join the Tararata Stream

Team facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/

groups/1947178058889289/

•Bring the kids to join in

with water testing work

and planting days

•Watch and warn people

who try to dump litter

•Come along to the

Matariki celebrations being

planned at the stream

•Enjoy the stream!

community to

value and nurture.

Their current

projects include

the installation of

a fish refuge in the

stream- a structure

that will allow the

fish to shelter from

the strong flow

of the current.

They aim to bring

life back into the

stream and to

encourage people

to engage with it.

“We want people

to notice that the

stream’s looking

a bit sad and to

ask “why?” and

“what can we do?”, says Julia. She hopes that more of

the stream neighbours will join in and enjoy the stream.

WANTED! EDUCATION SUPPORT WORKERS

Part-time work available.

Work with children with special needs in early childhood education.

Experience preferred, but not essential. Training provided.

Speakers of Samoan and/or te reo Maori are particularly encouraged to apply.

Call Shayla today

ph. 09 263 0798

7

---

Community Notices

IHUMATAO NEEDS YOU

SAVE OUR UNIQUE LANDSCAPE (SOUL)

: PROTECT IHUMATAO

HANDS AROUND THE LAND: HEI PURUPURU I

TE WHENUA

SATURDAY 26 MAY 2018

2PM - 2.30PM

OTAHUHU MANGERE YOUTH & HEALTH EVENT

SATURDAY 14th April 2018

11am - 2pm

Otahuhu Town Hall

High Street, Otahuhu Auckland

Great stories

begin here

ZERO

FEES

Conditions

apply

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Time to spare, or skills to share? Volunteer for

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Māngere, Ōtāhuhu or

Papatoetoe! The CAB is all about the client – making

sure individuals do not suffer through ignorance of their

rights and responsibilities. Apply online at www.cab.org.

nz, or call or drop in. CAB Māngere is on the Orly Ave

side of Māngere Town Centre (ph. 09 275 6885), CAB

Ōtāhuhu is in the Tōia Precinct, 30–34 Mason Ave (ph.

09 216 9813) and CAB Papatoetoe is at the back of the

Town Hall, 35A St George St, Old Papatoetoe (ph. 09 278

5191).

FREE CLASSES IN MA – NGERE EAST

Māngere East Community Centre runs FREE & low-cost

classes in parenting, te reo Māori, Samoan, korowai,

drivers licence theory, tai chi, zumba – and more! Visit

www.mangereeast.org, email: fiona@mangereeast.org,

ph. 275 6161 or drop in to 372 Massey Rd (behind the

library) Māngere East to find out more.

Community Notices are FREE

for community groups.

To list your group or event in the next issue, send

us a 50-word summary by 20 April 2018.

275 times

275

Māngere’s

times

Editor: Hermann Arp Jr.

Publisher: Māngere East Community Centre

275times@gmail.com

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