Welcome
Mangere East Community Learning Centre offers this community website to keep you informed about the wide range of quality services and activities at the centre, and issues impacting on our community.
Together with Samoa Atia'e, Ohomairangi Trust & our many other community partners, we are moving towards developing a new multi-functional community facility: the Mangere East Community Centre. We envisage a substantial, purpose-built community centre, with a series of classrooms, a gymnasium, early childhood centre, afterschool & homework centre, counselling rooms, community information and cafe.
Located behind the Mangere East Library, at 366 & 372 Massey Road, The Mangere East Community Centre comprises the Mangere East Community Learning Centre and After School, Samoa Atia'e I Magele & STRIVE. The Learning Centre offers a wide range of programmes in partnership & cooperation with many other services, including Ohomairangi Trust, Manukau Institute of Technology, English Language Partners, Pacific Education Centre, Aorere College Community Education, Autism NZ and local schools.
From left: TASI LAUESE JP, coordinator of Samoa Atia'e
MAHAVEER JAIN, Mangere Peoples Centre doctor (Note: The Peoples Centre has recently moved to Manurewa)
ROGER FOWLER, manager of Mangere East Community Learning Centre
Centre Administrator: FIONA DAWSON
Email: fd.mangere.east.access@paradise.net.nz
LATEST NEWS:
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CENTRE:
MANGERE EAST OSCAR PROGRAMMES:
Enrol your child now - a few spaces are available in our exciting After School, and Before School Programmes.
Low fees. CYF approved. OSCAR/WINZ fees subsidies are available.
Free bus service to & from local schools, stimulating activities, fun games & sports, nutrious snacks, and homework support offered.
Holiday Programmes every school holidays from 8am - 5.30pm
Talk to Fiona now: Ph 275-6161, or pop in anytime between 9am & 5.30pm week days.
2012 ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES AT THE CENTRE 
Our 2012 adult education classes are up and running - you can join in most of them at anytime. And most are free!
Managing your money: If you want free & friendly help with household budgeting - we offer a new 17 week course with MIT Tutor Fololi Lologa-Iosua every Wednesday & Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Enquire at the Centre office, 372 Massey Rd, Mangere East.
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To join our free English [ESOL] classes, meet our tutor (Jan Lambert) on Tuesdays, Thursdays. Three levels: Beginners level 1 from 9am - 11am, New Beginners from 11.10am to 1.10pm, Absolute Beginners from 1.30pm to 2.30pm and also on Fridays from 9am to 11am. [In partnership with English Language Partners - South Auckland]
We also have new Spanish and French language class on Wednesday evenings.... then there's Te Reo (Maori Language & culture) on Tuesdays, Driving Theory, Tai Chi, Fitness, Zumba, Niuean, Cook Island Maori and Fijian language .. and our range of famous Parenting courses too.
Samoa Atia'e also hosts a Samoan Playgroup on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, and Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Ph Faimai at Ph 256-0900 or 021-02700362.
Go the 'Adult Education Classes ' page for more information on our classes.
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MANGERE EAST CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2012
SATURDAY 24 MARCH IN THE MANGERE EAST VILLAGE GREEN (next to the Library)
Sharing & showcasing our local talents and cultures.
Over 16 different local cultural groups performed in the 2011 Mangere East Cultural Festival, in the packed-out Library (instead of the Village Green - we didn't let a little torential downpour put us off!) Speakers included Race Relations commissioner Joris De Bres, lMangere MP Sua William Sio, and local Auckland Council rep Peter Skelton.
Contact Hone at the centre if you want to be involved in the 2012 Festival: 275-6161 or honefowler@hotmail.com
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MANGERE EAST 2011 XMAS FESTIVAL:
The Mangere East Community Learning Centre hosted the 2011 Xmas festival at the Mangere East 'Village Green' again this summer. Thanks to all who helped make it a great day: especially the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board, the Mangere East Library, Mangere East Business Assoc, Ohomairangi Trust, STRIVE, Mangere Arts Centre, Maori Wardens, Auckland Council Events, and all our talented performers, speakers, volunteers, stalls, & sponsors.
If you wish to participate in the 2012 Cultural Festival and Xmas Festival, contact the organiser Hone at Ph 2756161 or at honefowler@hotmail.com
Reggae magic gets these kids moving with Tigilau Ness at the 2011 Xmas Festival
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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 in June.
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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
Feedback: The Resource Consent was granted, but extra monitoring & testing systems have been imposed, and a community liaison group set up as an on-going community forum.
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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).
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PREVIOUS MANGERE EAST XMAS FESTIVAL PICS:
Savage surrounded by young fans Adeaze entertain the crowd
Young Sid rocks Backstage
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!
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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 (this year: 18 December 2011).
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.
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NEW TAI CHI CLASSES:
Now from 12.30pm on Tuesdays. [FREE] Low impact movement - for strength, muscle tone, balance and agility.
NEW PARENTING COURSES:
"Enjoy your kids - be a great parent"
The Centre offers a range of free parenting classes in partnership with Ohomairangi Trust, including:
- SKIP Positive Parenting (for parents with children under 5 years). Contact our SKIP Coordinator, Tarisi, at the Centre (2756161) for details - or Cell phone: 02102799299, or email: skipmangere@clear.net.nz
- Hoki Ki Te Rito - 'Mellow Parenting' for mothers with pre-schoolers,
- 'Incredible Years': Parenting skill for positive family relationships. 14 week free course. Contact Glenis 021-08118879
- 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.
LANGUAGE CLASSES:
For beginners - Te Reo, Niuean, Cook Island Maori, Spanish, French, Fijian
[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 includes exciting excursions - like 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
