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This Saturday: Pasifika communities to celebrate Jonah Lomu’s life at Manukau

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Pasifika communities to celebrate Jonah Lomu’s life this Sautrday

 

From the Office of the Mayor Len Brown

Pasifika communities to celebrate Jonah Lomu’s life

Pasifika communities will pay traditional tributes to Jonah Lomu at a unique celebration of his life in Manukau on Saturday, ahead of the official memorial service at Eden Park on Monday.

The ’Aho Faka Famili – a special opportunity for Pasifika communities to acknowledge Jonah according to their traditions – will be held on Saturday at the Vodafone Events Centre in South Auckland.

“This is a way for Pasifika communities to respect their traditions, through oratory, music and gifts,” Mayor Len Brown said.

Mayor Len Brown says the thoughts of Aucklanders at this time are first and foremost with Jonah’s family.

“People from across the spectrum of the community feel a particular bond with an Aucklander who we are proud to call one of our greatest sons.”

Jonah’s brother John Lomu says their family is grateful to Auckland Council and to the communities of South Auckland for supporting the family’s desire to adhere to their traditions.

“We know that Jonah was treasured by New Zealanders and people all over the world.  For us, he was a brother, a son, and a man who was proud of his roots,” he said.

Many groups have already confirmed their wish to take part in the ‘Aho Faka Famili event.  Any other groups that would like to be part of the traditional cultural celebration of Jonah’s life are asked to contact Hana Moemalo in the Office of the Mayor by 10am Friday 27 November by emailing hana.moemalo@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or calling on 09-890 4845 or 021-046 1398 by 10am on Friday 27 November. 

The ‘Aho Faka Famili event will start at midday on Saturday 28 November at the Vodafone Events Centre, 770 Great South Road, Wiri in Manukau City.

Doors open at 11am and people are asked to dress respectfully and refrain from using mobile phones or cameras inside the arena, during the event.

The public memorial service for Jonah will be held at Eden Park on Monday 30 November from 1pm-3pm.

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The Great South Road in the area will be busy so take the bus (471-472 Great South Road service) or train to Manukau Station (then a 25 minute walk to the Events Centre) to #avoidcongestion

 

Manukau SHA site and in comparison to where it is and the distance to the Manukau Rail Station and proposed bus interchange (1.7km approx)
Manukau SHA site and in comparison to where it is and the distance to the Manukau Rail Station and proposed bus interchange (1.7km approx)

 

Details of the Jonah Lomu Public Events For Those Wanting to Say Farewell

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One at Eden Park the other in Manukau

 

From Our Auckland – Auckland Council:

Two public Auckland events to remember Jonah

Published: 23 November 2015

There will be two public Auckland events to celebrate the life of Jonah Lomu.

  • Public farewell service: Monday 30 November, 1pm-3pm – Eden Park, Reimers Ave, Kingsland

  • Aho Faka Famili (Day of the Family): Saturday 28 November, from noon – Vodafone Events Centre, 770 Great South Rd, Wiri, Manukau

Prime Minister John Key has announced details of two Auckland events to celebrate the life of Jonah Lomu.

A public service will be held on Monday 30 November from 1pm to 3pm at Eden Park.

“Jonah touched people’s lives across the country and around the world,” says Mr Key.

“This service will be open to all members of the public who want to remember the significant contribution Jonah made, not only to rugby here and overseas, but also to the wider community through his work with charities such as UNICEF and Kidney Kids NZ.”

“The service will be a celebration of Jonah’s life and I expect a large number of people will want to be there.”

In addition, there will be special Aho Faka Famili (Day of the Family) event allowing Auckland’s various communities to pay their respects. This will be held at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday 28 November from noon.

“Across the spectrum of our community, people feel a real bond with an Aucklander who was one of our greatest sons,” says Mayor Len Brown.

”This very special event will give community groups the chance to farewell Jonah in an appropriate manner and pay their respects to his family.”

A private funeral for Jonah will be held on Tuesday 1 December.

Read more:

Youth Sports and Leisure FamilyKids Community Albert-Eden-RoskillWaitematā and Gulf

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#RIPJonah – A Hero of South Auckland (and the World)

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A massive hole left in the South Auckland Community from the passing of Rugby Great – Jonah Lomu

 

The news of the passing of Jonah Lomu is being felt world-wide but even more so in South Auckland where he grew up, resided and inspired a then downtrodden community to be all they can be today, tomorrow and beyond.

 

Others will give their accounts of a man who brought rugby into a new age and who inspired a many legion of fans here in Auckland and around the world.

But his inspiration to the people of South Auckland who in the 1990’s was downtrodden and treated with disdain by others. I would have been 10 when he scored that try we all now know in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. But that try and its impact would and could be felt through the people of the South.

Having lived in the South for most of my life and still do I no longer see a community downtrodden but a community inspired and inspired to do great things

RIP to a man who brought the hits to Rugby

Who his rivals respected

Who inspired those of South Auckland

Rest Easy Now Jonah as your job is done. May those you inspired continue your legacy forever more

#RIPJonah