The Ōtara Papatoetoe Squad

10/07/2026

✨ Mānawatia a Matariki ✨
Wishing everyone a safe and beautiful Matariki 🌌⭐️

As we welcome the Māori New Year, may this season be a time to maumahara (reflection), whakanui (celebration), and tūmanako (hope) for the year ahead. May Matariki bring light, connection, and new beginnings to you and your whānau. 🤍

From all of us at TOP Squad,
Mānawatia a Matariki 💫

09/07/2026

Come through with your family and friends! Good vibes, music, food and company🙌🏽

04/06/2026

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
— Mahatma Gandhi

04/06/2026

UNTITLED 2026✨

• Whakawhanaungatanga • Va Fealoa’i • Tauhi Vā • Akapiri’anga • Veiwekani •

Building connections, strengthening relationships, and growing together as one community.

What an amazing evening bringing together youth leaders from schools across our community🙌🏽 We created a space to connect, share stories, learn from one another, and celebrate the unique strengths each young person brings.

With tautoko at the heart of the day, we encouraged one another, built new friendships, and explored how we can continue making a positive impact in our schools and communities.

The future is bright when young people come together with purpose, passion, and a commitment to uplifting each other! Watch this space…🌱💛

30/05/2026

“If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make the change” - Michael Jackson

SOUTHERN CLUSTER 26’

What a night! It was amazing to share this space with fellow youth who want to be the change in their communities. An evening of connection, collaboration, council updates, fun activities, and reflection with youth leaders from across South Auckland. Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their voice, and helped make the night one to remember!🙌🏽✨

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.