New Youth Hub at Māngere Mountain calls out for local support

The crew and attendees of the opening event from the Māngere Moutain Rangatahi Hub.

For Māngere local Kayne Ngatokowha Peters, creating a safe, vibrant space for young people wasn’t part of a long-term plan - it just grew naturally from his doorstep.

After living around Aotearoa and overseas for the last 20 years, Kayne returned to the area in the last two years and found his house was increasingly becoming a gathering point for his nieces, nephews, and neighbourhood kids. 

“It became a daily thing,” he says. “And I thought, we really need a space to hang out in.”

Soon that idea turned into the Māngere Mountain Rangatahi Hub, a free holiday program run by Kayne and his mum, Robyn, with support from the Māngere Mountain Education Centre. 

The hub is now going to transition into becoming an after-school programme, allowing for children to enjoy some kai, activities and simply have a safe place to be each week.

Kayne Mgatokowha Peters

The kaupapa has grown with help from whānau and friends, with cousins donating a netball hoop and arts supplies, the television production company Cinco Cine gifting T-shirts and hoodies, and community leaders turning up for barbecues and support. And each week ends with small awards as a way of building pride and belonging among the kids.

Many of the tamariki who come don’t have easy access to transport, supervision, or local activities, making the hub a vital outlet for connection and belonging. 

“On the days that we don't come here, they [still] come and knock on my door,” Kayne says.

Looking ahead, he hopes to secure funding, and partnerships with youth providers, artists, and sports mentors. 

“The dream for me is to have a place, that’s like a marae, somewhere on our maunga that our kids always have access to after school or on the weekends, where they can get kai, do activities or learn.” 

To reach out to Kayne email kayne.peters@gmail.com.