5 August 2016

Labour Party standing up for Otara

Apulu Reece Autagavaia, a lawyer and a current board director of the Counties Manukau District Health Board, joins current Otara-Papatoetoe local board members, Lotu Fuli and Mary Gush on a Labour Party ticket running for the Otara subdivision of the Otara-Papatoetoe local board. The current chair of the Otara-Papatoetoe local board, Fa'anana Efeso Collins, will be contesting one of two Councillor positions for the Manukau ward. Mr Collins will be standing with one of the current Manukau ward councillors, Alf Filipaina, also on a Labour Party ticket.

“We want to continue the hard work Fa'anana Efeso, Lotu and Mary have fought for on behalf of the people of Otara” says Apulu.

“For too long Otara was overlooked in favour of only Papatoetoe. But in the last local body elections the people of Otara and Papatoetoe elected strong Labour people to the local board, and finally, Otara is gaining the attention it deserves" says Apulu.

The Labour members of the Otara-Papatoetoe local board approved $4.2 million to help build a planned sporting and cultural hub complex at Ngati Otara park which includes new clubrooms for the Otara Scorpions Rugby League Football Club, changing rooms and a whole new Ngati Otara marae.

"This does not mean Labour will neglect Papatoetoe. However, Otara-Papatoetoe is only strong if we are all strong together. We want the people of both Otara and Papatoetoe to prosper" says Ms Fuli. The Labour local board members say this term they have funded the Kolmar Sports Centre in Papatoetoe and will continue to do so in the new term.

The local body elections is a postal vote, with voting papers being sent out to all registered voters from early August. People can mail back their votes to the Electoral Commission in the prepaid envelopes provided. Voting closes at 12 noon on Saturday 8 October.

"We encourage everyone to ensure you are registered to vote. If you didn't receive a voting paper for the flag referendum then it is highly likely you are not registered to vote" says Ms Fuli. People are directed to www.elections.org.nz to update their details or register to vote.

Signs for the Labour teams in Otara, Papatoetoe, Mangere, Otahuhu, Manurewa, Botany and the wider Counties Manukau District Health Board area will be erected this weekend, with campaign events planned during the voting period.

"We encourage people to come and meet the strong Labour teams we are putting forward. People will see we promise to continue the hard work started in making Otara and Papatoetoe stronger together" says Apulu.

Ends

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