The Ōtara Papatoetoe Squad

21/04/2026

Democracy done right ✅

10/04/2026

AEM is advising all Aucklanders to prepare now for the incoming weather.

12/03/2026

Important: Consultation on New Enrolment Scheme for Chapel Downs Junior College

The Ministry of Education is proposing a new enrolment scheme for Chapel Downs Junior College to manage significant growth in our area. This could affect which school your child is entitled to enrol in, and the Ministry wants to hear from you.

How to get involved:
* In-Person Meeting
* Online Survey
* Online Meeting

If you can’t attend a meeting, you can view the proposed scheme starting 19th March at the "Have your say" section of the Ministry of Education website.

Submit your comments by 29 April 2026 to: [email protected]

Photo credit: TC Alumni Terry Nelson
Model: TC Alumni Carmel Savaiinaea

11/03/2026

Annual Plan consultation is now open!

Give us your feedback on what's planned for the next financial year 2026/2027. Consultation closes on Sunday 29 March, 11.59pm.

I will be in-person at various Drop-in Sessions at our local libraries if you want to come chat and ask questions:

- Wednesday 11 March
10.30am Papatoetoe Library
12-1pm Manukau Library
3-5pm Tupu Youth Library
6-7.30pm Te Puke Ō Tara Community Centre

- Friday 13 March
11am-12pm Manukau Library

- Saturday 14 March
2-4pm Papatoetoe Library

- Tuesday 17 March
3-4pm Papatoetoe Library
6.30-8pm St Andrews Church, Otahuhu

- Wednesday 18 March
10-12pm Otara Library
12-1pm Manukau Library

- Thursday 19 March
10-12pm Manukau Library

09/03/2026

Go along and have your say !

Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board Annual Plan Community Info session evening
📝 Wednesday 11 March
⌚️ 6pm - 7:30pm
📍 Te Puke O Tara Community Centre
Free to attend and open to all. Come and visit the team to ask questions or to give your feedback about the proposed annual plan.

As a reminder, public consultation is now open for Auckland’s Annual Plan 2026/2027. You can have your say until 11.59pm on Sunday 29 March 2026. The annual plan is due to take effect on 1 July 2026. It sets out what we plan to achieve over the next financial year and how we will fund these plans https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/annual-plan-2026-2027

We are also facing cost increases that will affect our operating budget 🔎

To address the cost increases we are facing, we could make some or all of the following changes to service levels:
♦️ stop scheduled maintenance for bollard and ‘post-and-rail’ fencing
♦️ stop scheduled maintenance for bush areas except in high-value or ecologically important areas
♦️ stop extra planting and mulching in public gardens
reduce levels of maintenance for planted and natural bush areas in urban settings.
♦️ use chemicals instead of garden edging materials to separate grass and soil from footpaths and berms (grassy strip beside the road)
♦️ reduce discretionary funding (funding that a local board can choose to give to community groups or projects, based on local priorities and available budget) for:
community grants
community and environment management projects
♦️ increase entry fees by $1 for 'Adult Plus Only' spa, sauna and steam room services at at Ōtara Pool and Leisure Centre and Papatoetoe Centennial Pool (P*P)
♦️ reduce library hours:
Ōtara Library – reduce opening hours by 4 hours a week
Papatoetoe Library - reduce opening hours by 2 hours a week
Tupu Youth Library - reduce opening hours by 5 hours a week
Manukau Library – close on Sundays to reduce to a 6-day service.

03/03/2026

✨ Civic Service Awards 2026 ✨

Fa’afetai tele lava and huge congratulations to our incredible recipients this year. Your service, leadership, and heart for your communities do not go unnoticed. You are true examples of what it means to serve with purpose and pride.

As Fa’anānā says, “E le sili le ta’i, nai lo le tapua’i” - the one who serves is greater than the one who is served 🙌🏼

Congratulations to:
Aorere College – Palki Rahi
Papatoetoe High School – Penelope Isaia, Tiare Ioramo
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate – McTaavao Kirisome Mahe, Raymond Smith
Tangaroa College – Roman Siva
De La Salle College – Jireh Pita

We are so proud of each of you and the impact you continue to make in our rohe. Keep leading, keep serving, and keep inspiring the next generation.

📸 Link to more photos available in bio, limited time only!

22/02/2026

Not only are we celebrating amazing leaders at the Civic Service Awards, but we thought we’d join the trending TikTok dance too! 🕺💃 Come for the awards, stay for the moves! ✨

🙌🏼

19/02/2026

Not just a squad - a movement in action.

TOP Squad brings youth together through events that build confidence, connection, and community.

From community service and leadership opportunities to fun, uplifting gatherings, every event is a chance to grow, serve, and belong.

We’re building future leaders.
We’re strengthening our community.
We’re doing it together.

If you’re ready to be part of something bigger… pull up to the next TOP Squad event… coming soon!

17/02/2026

🏮 Happy Lunar New Year 2026 🐉
Wishing you all from our TOPSQUAD family prosperity, strength, and success in the year ahead.

Let’s grow, win, and rise together 🔥
Gong Xi Fa Cai 🧧

Success

07/02/2026

✨ TOPS Strategic Retreat 2026 ✨

Last month we came together for our TOPS strategic retreat - a time to review, reset, and plan the future of our kaupapa 🤍

We started with a group walk and reflection activities focused on personal growth and positive encouragement, followed by collaborative planning sessions shaping our goals and ideas for 2026. Team-based mall challenges helped strengthen communication, teamwork, and leadership, before finishing with lunch and a debrief together.

Grateful for the whakaaro shared and the kotahitanga shown by our rangatahi - the future of TOPS is exciting 🙌🏽

06/02/2026

🇳🇿✨ Waitangi Day - Honouring our past, empowering our future ✨

Today we reflect on Te Tiriti o Waitangi - a moment that shaped Aotearoa and continues to guide how we walk together today.

As rangatahi, our voices matter. Waitangi Day is not only about remembering history, but also about learning, growing, and building a future grounded in respect, unity, and understanding.

At Top Squad, we celebrate leadership, culture, and the strength of young people who are passionate about creating positive change in our communities.

Let’s take time to learn, listen, and uplift one another - because the future of Aotearoa belongs to us all. 💫

Whakanuia te rangatahi - celebrate our youth.

24/03/2025

We had a wonderful time touring the new Auckland Temple Open House 2025! Grateful for the opportunity to experience its beauty and peaceful spirit. Thank you for having us! 🥳🥰