Kia ora tatou,
Mālō 'e tau lava (greetings in Tongan),
Olympians 2024
Now that the Paris Olympics has finished, I would like to acknowledge some of our local Olympians who competed on the world stage.
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Kitona Vai representing Aotearoa New Zealand in Rugby 7s, former student of De La Salle College
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Lalomilo Lalomilo representing Samoa in Rugby 7s, also a former student of De La Salle College
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Ajah Pritchard-Lolo, representing Vanuatu in Weightlifting, a member of the Papatoetoe Olympic Weightlifting Club
Ajah Pritchard-Lolo, training out of Papatoetoe Olympic Weightlifting Club, made history as the first Vanuatu athlete to compete in Weightlifting at the Olympics, finishing 11th in the Paris 2024 - Women’s 81kg category.
Kitona Vai, former student of De La Salle College.
Black Ferns 2024
Congratulations to Maama Vaipulu, who is a former student of local high school, Aorere College. Maama was last month, announced as part of the New Zealand Black Ferns 2024 squad and the Aupiki Blues team. Malo aupito, Maama.
Maama Vaipulu, former student of Aorere College. Image sourced. Getty Images.
World’s Strongest Man Competition 2024
Another former student of Aorere College, Matthew Ragg, recently won the New Zealand’s Strongest Man Competition. Matthew went on to compete at the World’s Strongest Man Competition 2024, in the United States of America. He qualified directly for the finals as the winner of group 3, and eventually placed 4th overall. Congratulations Matthew.
Matthew Ragg. Image sourced from NZ Herald.
College Rugby League Champions – Premier Boys 2024
The Premier Boys showdown was to be a replay of last year's final, but a reversal of the result. Local high school, De La Salle College, we’re victors after dotting down first in the match, winning the match 12-8 against St Paul’s College. De La Salle has appeared in all three finals from 2022-2024 and this is the first time they’ve taken the title. Congratulations to De La Salle. Relieve the moment with this Auckland Rugby League reel.
World Choir Games
The 13th World Choir Games officially closed in Auckland at Spark Arena last month on 19 July. 11,000 singers from over 250 choirs, representing 40+ countries were engaged in fierce competition and wonderful friendship concerts all over the city displaying the best of the very best in choral singing. The Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board would like to acknowledge our local choirs who participated, as we congratulate those choirs that were awarded a placing as follows:
Open competition – Gospel:
- United Auckland Gospel Choir – GOLD and Category Winner
- Otara PIC Youth Choir – SILVER
Open competition – Secondary School Choirs:
- Toka Tu Moana (Tangaroa College)– GOLD
Open competition – Young Children’s Choir
- Puhinui School Choir – SILVER
Open competition – Folklore and Indigenous Music with Choreography:
- Auckland Pasifika Voices – SILVER
Our Diverse Communities
Tongan Language Week - Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga
This week, 18 - 24 August, our Tongan community is celebrating their language and culture. The 2024 theme for Tonga Language Week is 'E tu'uloa 'a e lea faka-Tongá 'o ka lea'aki 'i 'api, siasí (lotú), mo e nofo-'a-kāingá - The Tongan Language will be sustainable when used at home, church and in the wider community. This theme derives from the overarching Language Week Series theme for 2024, 'Sustainability'.
India and Pakistan's 77 years of independence
On Saturday 17 August, the New Zealand Punjabi Multimedia Trust hosted the 6th Hind Pak Sufi Mehfil at NZ Punjabi Community Hall, Papatoetoe. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the shared values and rich culture that unite the two countries and to promote solidarity and peace amongst the two communities residing in New Zealand. Check out Councillor Lotu Fuli's reel.
Lunar July Blessing Ceremony
On Saturday 18 August, the Tzu Chi Foundation hosted the Lunar Blessing Ceremony. In Buddhism, the lunar month of July is considered auspicious: a time of filial piety, and joy. The Foundation promotes vegetarianism and encourage awareness of the benefits to our environment and for the protection of animals.
Keep an eye out for these and the many other events that will be celebrating our diverse communities.
Mālō ‘aupito (thank you in Tongan),
Nga mihi mahana.
