United Communities Celebrate Healthy Families

A free community event themed United Communities Celebrate Healthy Families is being held on Saturday 27 September at the Dream Centre in Manukau from 10 am until 2 pm.

The event will celebrate Gamblefree Day and is hosted by the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand including Mapu Maia and Asian Family Services, and supported by Choice Not Chance.

Pesio Ah-Honi Siitia, Mapu Maia’s Pacific Manager, says the event is a great opportunity to engage with communities and celebrate the cultural diversity of our city.
“While the event is a fun family event it allows us to talk about the harm caused by gambling in our communities and promote general health and wellbeing for families,” she says.

The event will also feature the launch of the Mapu Maia poem book at 1 pm. Titled Ioe mo le Aiga, Leai i ta’aloga faitupe (Say Yes to Family, No to Gambling), the book is a compilation of heartfelt poems written by children as part of the Gamblefree Day poem competitions held over the last few years.

The launch will include poetry readings and performances from the children and their families. This book of poems will be used to highlight the harms of gambling within the Samoan community.

Throughout the day there will be entertainment, information stalls from a variety of organisations and a visit from special guest, former heavyweight boxer, David Tua.

There’s an opportunity to win one of eight large professionally printed canvas family photos in the Choice Not Chance Family Factor Photo competition.

Visitors to the event will be entertained by Dragon dancers, K-pop (Korean pop music), Thai and Japanese dancers, Zumba and more. There will be spot prizes and everyone will get a goodie bag on arrival.

The event is being held on Saturday 27 September at the Dream Centre, 3 Lakewood Court, Manukau, Auckland from 10 am until 2 pm.

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