↑ On top of being involved in numerous community organisations, Mimi is currently taking a course in raranga (Māori weaving) at Tauranga’s Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
how to call 111 when there’s an emergency. Really basic, practical things that would make life easier. We also set up the Tauranga Chinese Cultural Arts Group. We do a lot of performance around the city: entertainment at retirement villages, Christmas parades, multicultural shows at The Historic Village... We have over 20 members singing and dancing. I don’t dance, but I go to help them do announcements and MC.
settling, domestic abuse and things like that. I go to lawyers or counsellors with them, and encourage them when they can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are some sad cases. I have been teaching migrant English in Auckland with English Language Partners. It helps a lot of migrants so we’re hoping to start a new course here at the end of July. It’s free to residents and citizens. I love helping them to settle, otherwise they are so isolated, they can’t do anything and rely on their children for everything. Some are at home five days, then their children take them to supermarket or church, and those are the only highlights in life. This can be very boring, when they were so active and knew everything in China. In this course, I’m hoping to do more practical things, like taking public transport. Some [new migrants] don’t dare venture onto a bus. If they have the confidence to take the bus, they could go to more places. We could also go on a tour of the supermarket — I could tell them what the food’s about, taste a bit of cheese or something they’ve never tasted. And at least learn basic greetings and
The latest thing I’m doing is Māori flax weaving [raranga] at Te Wānanga. We have a noho marae [marae stay] once a month. I love it. My daughter did it and I used to watch her, so now I’m doing it myself. I’m retired but I’m just as busy — there’s never enough time! For information on English Language Partners courses, visit englishlanguage.org.nz Tauranga Chinese Cultural Arts Group practice 2.30–4.30pm every Saturday at the Rise Dancing Company studio at The Historic Village. Anyone is welcome to watch and try. @taurangaccag 60