This arvo, our director, Louise Tu’u, rode from Otahuhu with small children, to Māngere East Library to make their very own tapa earrings. March is Pasifika month, celebrating all the languages, culture, crafts, music and creativity that is from the Pacific Islands. Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland’s libraries are all hosting a wide range of great activities that are inspiring, practical and fun. Louise saw the backed up traffic and decided that they could cycle to the library.
Taking the route of the cool and tight walkway from the Otahuhu train station directly into Titi Street, then onto Kahu Street, then onto James Fletcher Drive. A good tip is when riding with children regardless of whether they are yours or not, is to always explain what and where you are going, then stop regularly. Accept that your ride will take longer.
Louise took this route as she wanted to try a safer alternative to Massey Road, where the library is, and try riding down an increasingly industrialised road: Savill Drive. What only a few years ago was quiet, has now become more and more busy with new warehouses and traffic.
Did you know there is a bridge that rides over Lake Saxophone?
Louise and the kids finally made it to Māngere East Library but the tapa earring activity had already finished. The group was disappointed, which turned into consolation when the Senior Library Assistant Pasifika, Nia Motufoua, kindly offered to run another session in the future.
Mālō ‘aupito Nia! (That’s her in the last picture)
Riding back after ice cream and snacks, the contented group headed back to Ōtāhuhu via Massey Road in all it’s rush hour glory.
#pushbike #Aukilani #brownwomxnwhobikeride
We Should Practice 