What have the Māngere Boating Club, Samoa Atia'e l Magele Incorporated Society, the Order of St John, To’utupu Tongan Trust, the Bridge Park Bowling Club, Ōtāhuhu Softball and the Māngere East Rugby League Club got in common?
They’ve all been granted new community leases by the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.
The boating club has a new lease to continue from the group-owned building at Kiwi Esplanade in Māngere Bridge, while Samoa Atia’e l Magele will continue its work with at-risk Samoan youth at the council-owned Māngere East Community Centre at Walter Massey Park,
The Order of St John won’t have to find a new ambulance building and training hall at Canal Reserve at 23 Atkinson Avenue in Ōtāhuhu, and To’utupu Tongan Trust will be able to keep working with at-risk Tongan youngsters at Jordan Road in Māngere.
Bowlers will be rolling up at Bridge Park at the Māngere Domain for an end or two yet, softballers will be hitting home runs over the fence at Sturgess Park in Ōtāhuhu, and league fans will be shouting ‘six again ref’ at Walter Massey Park as the Mighty Hawks play on.
All the groups do great tings in the community, board acting chair Harry Fatu Toleafoa says.
“Local boards have the allocated authority relating to recreation, sport and community facilities, including on leasing matters, and we are delighted all the groups will continue to serve their communities.
“The clubs and groups all serve in a way that aligns with our priorities as a board, from providing sporting opportunities to helping vulnerable members of our Pasifika community.
“Our sporting clubs are more than just places people go to play league, bowls or softball. They are community centres in their own right that give people the chance to play and stay healthy, but also to come together as a community.”
