The primary aim is to help the immigrant communities become self-sufficient, healthy groups which are integrated and involved in the wider Mahurangi community, while retaining and being proud of their own heritage and cultures.

  • The Pasifika Migrant Community Transformation Plan is now in its fifth year. The underlying premise for this program is to help new immigrants to integrate into our community while still maintaining their own culture and identity and to help our own community accept and value these new immigrants. To date the key support for this program has been the provision of Community Support and Social Services for the migrant community.
  • As well as consultation and support dealing with other agencies. weekly activities have included information & instruction on parenting, budgeting, nutrition, gardening, sewing, cooking and baking.
  • Literacy North Shore commenced English language classes in 2015 and are continuing to provide these service in 2016. They are also planning to provide an introduction to computer course sometime in 2016.
  • These services are being led and supported by our Community Worker Rosanna Ball and consists of a total of 28 hours paid work each week plus additional voluntary hours.
  • Our local MP’s Tracey Martin and Mark Mitchell have been very supportive in 2015-16 particularly around immigration and visa issues. Most of the immigration issues previously handled by Stephene Manuel are now being referred to MP offices

Mahurangi Pasifika 2010 – 2016

The Mahu Vision Community Trust has developed and organised five Annual Pasifika festival events to allow local migrant groups to sustain their cultural music and dance and to share that with the local community. The latest festival, on November 2016 was held at Mahurangi College in Warkworth.

The event attracted over 700 performers and spectators. It was encouraging to have local MP Mark Mitchell visit along with Auckland Councillor Greg Sayers and local Board reps Beth Houlbrooke and Tessa Berger.

Cultures represented were: Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tongan, Samoan, NI-Van (Vanuatu) and local Maori. Leigh Primary School’s Kapa haka group represented local Maori.

There was a four hour presentation of singing and dancing. A surprise guest was the newly elected President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau.

A celebration Christmas feast was enjoyed by over 700 performers and supporters.. The menu featured roast pork, ham, peas and potatoes and varied salads followed by traditional kiwi ice-cream and jelly.

Mahurangi College was an ideal venue because of their commercial kitchen. The key sponsor for this event was our Rodney Local Board.