Community lifestyle centre a win for Otahuhu community

Last week’s opening of the Te Rito Community Lifestyle Centre - Otahuhu’s newest community resource – has seen a landmark South Auckland building brought back to life.

Aiming to connect people from all over the Otahuhu community, Te Rito has been developed to provide a central resource for local residents who are interested in improving their health and fitness, learning a new skill or connecting with others in the neighbourhood.

Backing the initiative is kaupapa Maori organisation Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust, which supports people with intellectual disabilities of all ethnicities to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. Te Rito Community Lifestyle Centre brings together this work with their additional focus on connecting communities and supporting people to have fun and engage in healthy activities.

Trust Chairman Tania Thomas explained “we want to give mokopuna opportunities to get involved in the community.

“The centre will be home to a wide range of activities and our aim is to create an environment where people feel comfortable and secure taking part. It is about something much bigger than Te Roopu Taurima; Te Rito is a place for the Otahuhu community.”

The site of Te Rito Community Lifestyle Centre holds particular significance for those involved in the new initiative. Since it was originally opened in 1951, the building has served the community as a place of learning, a centre for local sporting clubs and as a home for the Maori Warden’s office. Once sentenced to demolition, it has been given new life, thanks to Te Roopu Taurima’s initiative.

Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board Council Member Walter Togiamua adds “the centre will offer an environment for different groups to meet and interact.

“Such facilities are limited in our area, so it’s great to see Te Roopu Taurima being so proactive in creating a space that encourages and facilitates interactions between mokopuna and the community. We’re looking forward to the opportunities this will offer for locals to get involved.”

Te Rito Community Lifestyle Centre will offer the Otahuhu community access to facilities at a low cost to encourage health, fitness, personal growth and skills development, while also generating income for Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust to help fund their vital services.

To find out more about Te Rito’s services visit www.facebook.com/teritocommunitylifestylecentre