The Otara Kai Village

04/09/2026

🍽️ GOT A KAI BUSINESS OR THINKING ABOUT STARTING ONE? 👀

We know there is SO much talent in our community when it comes to kai. From home-based cooks and bakers, food stalls and market vendors, to food trucks, cafés, takeaways and whānau operating in and around our town centres — this opportunity could be really useful for you.

Auckland Council has launched HOSPO HUB, a FREE guidance service to help new hospitality businesses understand and work through Council requirements.

They can help with things like:

• Food registration
• Alcohol licensing
• Outdoor dining licences
• Street trading licences
• Understanding Council processes and what you actually need to do to operate

Sometimes people have an amazing product, loyal customers and big aspirations, but the paperwork and Council processes can feel confusing or become a barrier to taking the next step.

Hospo Hub is there to help make that journey easier.

So if you’re currently selling kai from home, operating at markets, running a food truck or stall, looking at moving into a shop, or you’ve simply been thinking about turning your kai hustle into something bigger — have a look into this.

📧 [email protected]

You can also scan the QR code on the poster to connect directly with the Hospo Hub team.

Please TAG or SHARE this with our local kai businesses, cooks, bakers, vendors and aspiring entrepreneurs. There are some seriously talented people in our community — we want to see more of them supported to grow and succeed. 💯🔥

Local talent. Local businesses. Local success.

04/09/2026

Stay tuned whanau🚴‍♂️☀️‼️

03/09/2026

🕊️ HE MIHI AROHA | REV. OLIVE MATENE-WALLACE

Today we acknowledge the passing of another pou, wahine toa and much-loved member of our Ōtara community — Reverend Olive Matene-Wallace.

Whaea Olive dedicated so much of her life in service to our people.

As an ordained Anglican priest within Tikanga Māori, she served our community through the Whakaaturanga Church of the Epiphany on Bairds Road, and for many years was a strong and committed leader alongside the Turehou Māori Wardens, supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our whānau across Ōtara.

But for us at The Community Builders NZ Trust {Otara Kai Village, Otara Youth Hub, Pataka Kai, Ahi Ka Kapahaka} Whaea Olive was more than a respected community leader.

She and her whānau are part of our whānau.

Whaea Olive supported our kaupapa, our mahi and especially our rangatahi over many years. Her contribution to our young people was incredible. She always showed up with aroha, encouragement, wisdom and a genuine belief in our youth and in the potential of our community.

People like Whaea Olive are the pou who quietly hold communities together — serving, caring, guiding and giving without seeking recognition.

Her presence will be deeply missed. 😢.

To her whānau, tamariki, mokopuna and all those who loved her, we send our deepest aroha and condolences. We acknowledge your mama, nanny, whaea, leader and wahine toa, and we thank you for sharing her with our community for so many years.

E kore e warewaretia.
You will not be forgotten.

Haere atu rā e Whaea Olive.
Haere ki te kāinga tūturu.
Haere ki ō tīpuna kua whetūrangitia.

Moe mai rā i runga i te rangimārie. 🕊️

With much aroha,
The Community Builders NZ Trust whānau

02/09/2026

📢 ŌTARA COMMUNITY UPDATE | OLD MIT SITES SET TO BE CLEARED FOR HOUSING. LETS HOPE THERE'S ACTUAL ACTION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN YEARS!!!!

Kia ora Ōtara whānau,

Some pretty significant news has come out today about the old Manukau Institute of Technology sites here in Ōtara, and we’re keen to hear what our community thinks.

The Government has announced that the deteriorating buildings on the former MIT North and South campus sites will be demolished, with the land being prepared for future housing development.

Together, these Crown-owned sites cover around 8.4 hectares of land right here in the heart of Ōtara.

The buildings have been sitting largely unused for years and have extensive asbestos contamination, alongside ongoing issues with vandalism, break-ins and fires.

The Government says the next stage will involve specialist investigations, consents and appointing contractors. This preparation is expected to take around six months, followed by approximately 15 months of demolition and site remediation.

🏠 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT?

This is the important part.

The Government has confirmed that the land is being held for **housing**, and changes to the current education-related zoning are being sought.

However, exactly **what gets built, how much housing, what type of housing and what the overall development will look like has NOT yet been confirmed.**

And because this is such a large and important piece of land in our community, we think Ōtara voices need to be part of the conversation.

💬 SO ŌTARA — WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What would YOU like to see happen on these sites?

🏠 More affordable homes for local whānau?

🏡 A mixture of social, affordable and private housing?

🌳 Parks and quality green spaces included?

🏀 Recreation and youth spaces?

🏢 Shops, employment or community facilities?

🏥 Health and social services?

🚗 What about roads, parking and traffic if hundreds of new homes are eventually built?

🏫 What impact could additional housing have on local schools and services?

And importantly — how should local residents, mana whenua, rangatahi and community organisations be involved in deciding what happens next?

For many of us, MIT has been part of the history and identity of Ōtara for decades.

If this land is entering a new chapter, then our community should have a meaningful voice in shaping what that chapter looks like.

👇 DROP YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW.

Good, bad, concerns, ideas — we want to hear them.

Please keep the kōrero respectful. This is about understanding what our community wants and what questions we should be asking as more information becomes available.

📰 Read the Stuff article here:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/home-property/361028197/derelict-asbestos-riddled-polytech-sites-be-cleared-housing

Ōtara land. Ōtara future. Ōtara voices need to be heard. 💯

Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board

The Manukau Institute of Technology sites were acquired by the Government in 2019.

30/08/2026

Hot delicious lentil vege chicken curry soup and French sticks on the menu today whanau. Plenty available especially for a cold day like today!

Salt your own & option to butter your own bread.

See you at 11am whanau.

Local Doctors & Otara Family and Christian Health Centre please let your patients know ❤️🙏🏼

30/08/2026

🍲 MANA KAI MONDAY is back this week! 🧡
- Ready 11am and open till all gone -

On the menu we’ve got some hot, delicious curried chicken & vegetable soup, served with French sticks — warm, hearty kai made for our community. Perfect for these cooler days! 🙌🏽

A quick reminder whānau: there will be NO regular Tuesday food parcels for the next two weeks. Our normal Tuesday food parcels will resume on 15 September.

We’ve also put signs up around The Village so whānau who aren’t on social media can get the message too. Please help us spread the word. 🧡

Mana Kai Monday — good kai, good people, community looking after community.

Please note: This is exactly what our curried vege chicken soup looks like and what you can expect apopo. It's delicious and even if your not a curry person our version isn't over powering 😍

29/08/2026

📣 FOOD PARCEL UPDATE – ŌTARA WHĀNAU

Kia ora whānau,

Please note that our regular Tuesday food parcel distribution from KiwiHarvest will be taking a short break for the next two weeks.

There will be NO Tuesday food parcels on:
❌ Tuesday 1 September
❌ Tuesday 8 September

✅ Our regular Tuesday food parcels will resume on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

We know things are really tough out there for many of our whānau right now, and we want to acknowledge everyone who comes through each week for a little extra support. ❤️

If you need food or other support during the next two weeks, please check out the Ōtara Community Support Directory, put together by ONAC: Ōtara Network Action Committee. It has information about other local services and organisations that may be able to help:

👉 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k_eu8ak6pdIAgN8jqbsXxdlT6iU7e1GpIluReLG0qJ0/edit?usp=drive_link

Please feel free to share this post with whānau who may normally come through on Tuesdays, so nobody makes an unnecessary trip.

Thank you for your understanding and patience, whānau. 💛

We’ll see you again Tuesday 15 September.

Ngā mihi nui ❤️

26/08/2026

Love to see it OG’s 👏🏽🕺

25/08/2026

Tuesday kai distribution day. Good load of kai today from kiwi harvest. Thank you OGS for your help every week 💯