December 11, 2019
Waatea Marae thronged for Christmas foodbank
Pride and sadness are the emotions that come to the fore for marae chair Willie Jackson as Ngā Whare Waatea opens its doors for the annual Christmas food parcel distribution.
Long lines are expected over the next two weeks as whānau collect their parcels and in some cases get a top up to their benefits.
The distribution, along with ones at Papakura Marae, Eden Park and the mission’s current city base in Union St, is the result of a relationship forged several years ago.
Mr Jackson, who’s now also a Labour list MP, says the Manukau Urban Maori Authority was dealing every day with a target clientele the City Mission had been unable to reach.
"When you see the need, it's fabulous what our people are doing at the marae there but it's also very sad how much work still has to be done and I'm part of a Government that's trying to turn that around. We get criticised it's not fast enough and I accept that criticism but we're trying and it is fantastic to see our people making such a great effort as they will over the next week or so," he says.
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