The Manukau Urban Māori Authority has provided 6,000 whānau members, including 3,500 tamariki, with a very merry Christmas.
From Monday to yesterday at Ngā Whare Waatea Marae, 1,088 parcels were distributed to registered whānau through an efficient drive-in service supported by approximately 40 staff and up to 20 volunteers.
Spokesperson Puhihuia Wade says the program has been running for five years now.
In the past, it has been quite chaotic, with some people queuing overnight for hours to secure their place.
“So that wasn’t a way to show manaaki to our whānau, so we pivoted really quickly to a collection way, where whānau can actually be booked in – they can come in via a drive through-type service,” says Wade.
