December 14, 2021
MUMA 7 Days of Xmas full on
There were queues today at Nga Whare Waatea for the first day of Manukau Urban Māori Authority’s 7 Days of Christmas.
Operations manager John Cameron says the joint initiative with Auckland City Mission is running differently this year, with the distribution of food and presents to needy whānau being as contactless as possible.
As in previous years, there are Ministry of Social Development staff on site to ensure people are getting all the support they are entitled to, and a vaccination team from Waipareira will also be present during the week.
Mr Cameron expects to give out about 700 parcels a day but that could go higher if the need is there.
“There’s still hardship out there. Christmas is a hard time anyway but it has been exacerbated this year with the Covid pandemic,” he says.
Whānau can to book a time turn up to the marae by calling 0800 686 232, and the 7 Days of Christmas foodbank runs until December 22.