Welcome
Mangere East Community Learning Centre has launched this community website to keep you informed about the wide range of quality services and activities at the centre, and issues impacting our community. Together with Samoa Atia'e & the Peoples Centre, we are moving towards a new multi-purpose community facility: the Mangere East Community Centre.
Located behind the Mangere East Library, at 372 Massey Road, The Mangere East Community Centre comprises the Mangere East Community Learning Centre and After School, Samoa Atia'e I Magele, and the Mangere Peoples Centre which offers medical and dental services. Click on 'Our Voices' newsletter below for more details of these services.
From left: TASI LAUESE JP, coordinator of Samoa Atia'e
MAHAVEER JAIN, Mangere Peoples Centre doctor
ROGER FOWLER, manager of Mangere East Community Learning Centre
Centre Administrator: FIONA DAWSON
LATEST NEWS:
Celebrating Samoan Language week at the After School Programme:
Auro Isa'ako and Faimai Tuimauga (Samoa Atia'e) teaching the children Samoan art skills during Samoan Language week (31 May - 4 June)
Centre manager tells Resource Consent hearing: "I want my grandchildren to be able to grow up in a healthy environment."
['The Aucklander' report 13 May 2010]
Otahuhu residents are fuming over Pacific Steel's push to keep pumping smoke into their skies. Doctors talk of possible illnesses from pollution.
Great white puffs of smoke spew from the side of the Pacific Steel factory in Otahuhu. A few hundred metres behind, a bonfire is set and black smoke billows out to the sky.
Roger Fowler, Mangere resident for 30 years, gazes at it from a distance. "It's hard to determine whether that fire is in the compound of Pacific Steel but it makes my point. When you combine the air pollutants from the company with pollution from other sources, you get a dangerous mix in the air we breathe."
He says doctors have raised serious concerns about the number of respiratory ailments in the community. "That isn't necessarily all attributed from the plant. But contaminants have no DNA. We wouldn't know if they are from the plant, the traffic congestion or from other sources," he says.
Mr Fowler is angry Pacific Steel is asking Auckland Regional Council to renew for another 20 years its consent for discharging air contaminants.
"South Auckland has been used as a dumping ground for dirty industries for years," says Mr Fowler, claiming these industries would not be tolerated in other suburbs.
Some 73 submissions opposed the application. However, only Mr Fowler attended the council hearings. He suspects others were put off attending by delays which lasted almost a year.
Mr Fowler says the buffer zone between the steel plant and residential area has diminished over the years.
"An early childhood centre is about to open in a few weeks followed by a Tongan Community Centre. A fruit processing plant and three large market gardens are also located just beyond the boundary fence of the Pacific Steel plant."
Backyard gardens are also becoming increasingly popular. "It is evident that airborne toxins can be ingested through the soil and vegetables. Should local residents be warned to stop consuming home-grown produce?"
Pacific Steel's general manager, Ian Jones, maintains the company has been environmentally responsible. Recently, it invested $6 million in cleaning the site, improving emissions and capturing dust.
"From a global perspective and comparative benchmarks, Pacific Steel is one of the lowest carbon-emitting steel manufacturers," he says, pointing out the firm has recently received an environmental choice accreditation. "This accreditation recognises our processes. Our products can be used in Green Star buildings," he says.
Green Star is a national voluntary, environmental rating scheme developed by the Green Building Council and the building industry. "We recycle 98 per cent of our input materials," Mr Jones stresses.
If not for Pacific Steel, scrap metals would have been shipped to Asia to steel manufacturers then shipped back to New Zealand. Those manufacturers do not have the same environmental standards as Pacific Steel, he says.
The 20-year consent is critical to the company to provide long-term security to its investments as well as to its clients.
Mike Harvey, a consents officer with the regional council, proposed a 15-year permit.
"It is considered that the environmental effects that may be generated by the activity could be minor or could be adequately avoided, remedied or mitigated by the imposition of conditions," he told the hearing, which ended on April 29.
It was chaired by former regional council chairwoman Gwen Bull, now an independent commissioner. The decision is expected by May 20.
By and large, says Mr Fowler, the community just wants the strictest safeguards in place to protect people's health.
"I want my grandchildren to be able to grow up and thrive in a healthy environment."
Rowena Orejana
The Aucklander 13/5/10
COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN SAVES
MANGERE EAST POST OFFICE: 
When food giant Progressive Enterprises served an eviction notice on the Mangere East Post Office recently, they didn’t factor in the united outrage of the local community.
Progressive have a grand plan to demolish the Mangere East shops they own and build a bigger Countdown store on the site. Their four-weeks eviction notice on their neighbour was to be their first move.
When local residents found out, they called an urgent meeting at the community hall. Over 250 turned up to campaign to save their Post Office & Kiwibank, and set about organising a series of protest actions. Mangere MP Su’a William Sio, several city councillors, community & church leaders and the Mangere Community Board swung in behind the campaign. The walls of the shopping centre were plastered with well-read daily wall-newspapers with updates on the campaign. A community petition attracted over 6000 signatures.
Over 200 angr
y locals picketed the Countdown store and loudly endorsed a plan to boycott Countdown andrun a free shoppers’ bus service to the rival Pak ‘N Save store in Mangere.
The Mangere East Community Centre offered their bus for a half-hourly free shuttle service.
After the rowdy lunchtime protest the Post Office manager received an email from Progressive bosses agreeing to drop the eviction notice, and offered a public apology and to meet with protest leaders. At that meeting the company also agreed to on-going consultations with the protesters regarding their development plans, and to offer the Post Office a prime position in the new Countdown store.
Progressive, is renowned for being arrogant & stubborn – remember their infamous lock out three years ago. But after just two weeks of concerted community protest action they were forced to back down.
These 'Manukau Courier' photos show the protest at The Mangere East Countdown store. Mangere East Community Centre manager, Roger Fowler, gets unanimous support for the proposed boycott and free shuttle-bus service (top photo).
TERM 2 ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES AT THE CENTRE 
Our 2010 Term 2 classes are up and running - you can join
in most of them at anytime. And most are free!
Literacy classes: If you want to join this course, you will
need to talk with the tutor, Meritiana, before 9am Weds, or
Fridays. .
To join our English [ESOL] classes, meet our tutor (Karen)
from 8.30am on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
We also have new 'Alo Mai Loa' fitness classes on Mondays and Thursdays from 6pm, and Salsa Dance classes on Wednesdays.... then there's Te Reo also on Weds evenings, Kapahaka on Thursdays, Driving Theory, Tai Chi, Niuean and Fijian language .. and our Parenting courses too.
Go the 'Adult Education Classes ' page for more information on our classes.
MANGERE EAST XMAS FESTIVAL - DECEMBER 2009:
Savage surrounded by young fans Adeaze entertain the crowd
Young Sid rocks Backstage
Manukau City Mayor Len Brown with Toko & John J. Williams
MANGERE EAST XMAS FESTIVAL - 'A GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY'
The Centre organised last year's Mangere East Xmas Festival with a big public concert in the Mangere East Village Green.
The big crowd enjoyed an impressive line-up of popular entertainers including, Savage, Young Sid (Smashproof), Adeaze, J. Williams, Recommended Dosage, Tigilau Ness (Unity Pacific), plus a mighty range of local talent.
The theme focused on the campaign to stop familiy violence: "It's Not OK", and was supported by the Ministry of Social Development, The Mangere Community Board, the Mangere East Business Assoc, Mangere East Family Service Centre, and the Mangere Markets trust. Concert organiser Toko Manuel proclaimed the event a 'great success for the local community.'
Speakers included Manukau Mayor Len Brown, Mangere MP Su'a William Sio, and centre manager, Roger Fowler.
MANGERE EAST CULTURAL FESTIVAL - review
The Centre organised the first Mangere East Cultural Festival in 2008, in the Mangere East Village Green.
Launched by Deputy Mayor Su'a William Sio, the day was a great success with a wide range of cultural groups showcasing their talents.
We hope this event will become a regular festival to celebrate the diverse cultures and talents of our community. Get your culture group involved in the next festival! Come along and share the excitement!
VISITORS' BUS TO WAIKERIA PRISON:
The Centre runs the PARS visitors' bus to Waikeria on the last Sunday of each month, except for the December trip which is on the Sunday before Xmas.
Only $10 donation - pre-school children free. Pick ups on the way, such as Auckland city, Otahuhu, Mangere, Otara, Manurewa, Papakura, Huntly etc.
Ring the Centre to book a seat: Ph 2756161.
NEW TAI CHI CLASSES:
Now from 1pm on Tuesdays. [FREE] Low impact movement - for strength, muscle tone, balance and agility.
NEW SALSA/LATIN DANCE CLASSES:
Reggaeton/Latin R&B style - wear comfortable loose clothing and a towel.
Every Wednesday from 7 - 8pm. Tutors Paul & Gina Te Whata. ($5 per session).
Have fun as you get fit!
NEW PARENTING COURSES:
The Centre offers a range of free parenting classes, including:
- SKIP Positive Parenting (for parents with children under 5 years),
-Hoki Ki Te Rito - 'Mellow Parenting' for mothers with pre-schoolers,
-Parenting for Fathers,
-'Early Bird' Parent Training for families with children on the Autistic Spectrum (under 5 years). Free Saturday sesions. Contact Ohomairangi Ph: 2630798.
Contact the SKIP coordinator, Tarisi, at the Centre (2756161) for details - or Mob: 021-2799299, or email: skipmangere@clear.net.nz
NEW FIJIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES:
For beginners - on Saturdays 3pm - 5pm
[See "Adult Education Classes" page for more information on all the courses available at the centre.]
OSCAR PROGRAMMES:
The Centre runs Before & After School, and Holidays Programmes. The Summer Holiday programme included exciting excursions to Motu Moana Adventure Park, Jungle World, Mini-Golf, SkateLand, Mangere Fun Pools and Maraetai Beach. The Afterschool bus picks up children from all local schools, including: Papatoetoe North, Sutton Park, Mangere East, Mary MaKillop, Southern Cross Campus & Kura, Kedgley Int, Kingsford.
Go the 'Out-of-school Care Services' page for more information & photos.
BUS CHARTERS:
The Centre now owns three buses which are available for hire at reasonable rates; a 45 seat coach, a 33 seat coach and a 15 seat mini-bus. Ph: 275-6161.
VENUE HIRE:
There are a variety of spaces available for hire - suitable for meetings, classes, seminars and small conferences. Catering can also be arranged. Off street parking, kitchens with each room, wheel chair accessible, fenced playground, white boards, DVD player etc. Reasonable rates. Ph 275-6161
For a map of our location
