“...Visit your local library, there’s always something fun happening...”, is the message from Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.
Pasifika Month was an exciting, month-long celebration in March across Māngere Town Centre Library, Māngere Bridge Library, Tōia Library, and Māngere East Library.
Supported by the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board, the month was filled with vibrant story times, creative activities, and rich cultural experiences – each day brought something new and allowed the community to explore, learn and take part in cool experiences.
Chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich says, “It’s amazing to see how our libraries have evolved into vibrant community hubs.
“Gone are the days when libraries were just about borrowing books – now they offer so much more. It was great for this board to participate and support the Pasifika Win competition, where locals explored four libraries, borrowed from the Pasifika collection, and entered the draw. They received 64 entries! Visit your local library – there's always something fun happening!”
A glimpse of Pasifika Month at our four libraries
- Māngere East Library: 370 Massey Road, Māngere East
Fijian fan making. The youth had a go at creating their own Fijian Iri (Fan).
Image: Māngere East Library.
Pasifika stencil art tote bag making. Local schools creating unique designs on tote bags to showcase their artistic flair.
Image: Māngere East Library.
- Māngere Town Centre Library: 121 Bader Drive, Māngere
Māngere Town Centre Library and Tōia Library-Te Pātaka Kōrero o Ōtāhuhu hosted a vibrant Pasifika and Te Reo Storytime, blending Pacific music, traditional dance, food and storytelling. The highlight was the Māngere East Cultural Festival, proudly brought to life by library staff from all four branches and Māngere East Community Centre.
Image: Māngere Town Centre Library.
- Tōia Library- Te Pātaka Kōrero o Ōtāhuhu (Ōtāhuhu): 28-30 Mason Ave, Ōtāhuhu
Tamariki from Busy Bees Ōtāhuhu and St Andrew’s Christian Preschool shared in Pasifika Storytime, sang songs, and ate delicious panikeke and bananas.
Image: Tōia Library.
- Māngere Bridge Library: 5/7 Church Road, Māngere Bridge
There was plenty of themed programmes featuring Pasifika songs, myths, activities, and crafts. Additional outreach programmes were held for preschoolers at language nests and libraries, including a visit from Māngere College students for tapa printing. A special competition across four libraries offered a chance to win tickets to the NZ film movie Tina by borrowing from their Pasifika book collection.
Board chair Tauanu'u Nick Bakulich picking out competition winners.
A total of 153 people attended throughout the month, including 57 from outreach to language nests, 60 at Storytime at the library, 17 from Māngere College, and 19 at the after-school tapa printing activity.
Image: Māngere Bridge Library.
Young learners from Seugagogo A'oga Amata Preschool - Ōtāhuhu, The Miller Nest Preschool - Māngere Bridge and Fetu Aolele Multicultural ECE Māngere attended the Pasifika storytime.
Image: Māngere Bridge Library.
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