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The Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Leisure Centre (Māngere Pools) has opened its doors to become South Auckland’s second evacuation centre.
Māngere residents affected by the recent floods are able to find immediate assistance with shelter and shower facilities.
It’s a busy hive of productivity. Government agencies line the walls with tables as workers sit across from the flood affected, speaking in reassuring voices.
Hundreds of grocery bags and boxes stacked in the centre are filled with non-perishable food items. Tables groaning under the weight of donated clothes, shoes and books, only to be released of their goods when people come to take what they need.
Auckland Councillor and Māngere local Alf Filipaina has helped to lead the evac centre to the pools, “you can see the unity,” he says.
“We’ve got everybody here that is here to help our communities.”
With scores of people taking shelter and finding support at this new location, it’s a wonder the Moana-nui-a-Kiwa pools weren’t first thought of as an evacuation site.
The day after the floods, Civil Defence centres were announced in Kelston in West Auckland, Albany for North and Randwick Park for South.
Chairman of the Māngere-Otāhuhu Local Board Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich says, “we wanted a Civil Defence Centre in Māngere on Sunday because the intel was telling us that the impact was here.”
Why they chose Randwick Park which is 20km away? They need to review why they chose that space.”
And with many cars either water-logged or damaged, access to this particular evac centre for Māngere residents was near impossible.
Looking around the halls of the Māngere Pools, Tauanu’u is defiant, “as you can see right now this place is full.”
“Which gives great detail as to where the need is.”
Tauanu’u also references a Civil Defence report conducted five years ago which identified suitable locations in Māngere for emergency and evacuation.
“Why that work wasn’t referred to is a question that could be asked of the Mayor’s office.”
With reports of people still ‘mā’ to seek help, Filipaina encourages everyone to come through.
“Make sure you get that assistance first,” he emphasises.
“People get new clothes because their clothes are destroyed; they [also] end up getting towels, the blankets please take it.”
Tauanu’u also encourages people to come and volunteer, “if there’s people that wanna help, come down.”
If you have a specialty, come down, you don’t need an invitation.”
We’ll find some work for you.”
Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
