Mairangi Notes #1 — 2026.04.10

MHJ

my mairangi

Issue

2026.04.10

Yussi's Note

Greetings to Mairangian

Kia ora! Every first step a parent takes comes with a trembling. The moment you first hold your baby. The morning you leave them at kindy and walk away. The day you watch that tiny back — buried under a backpack — disappear through the school gate. Partly anxious, but more like hopeful — and writing this first letter to you feels exactly the same. Welcome to the shore of Mairangi, where a family of five juggles with everything new.

Main Story

Little 15 Mins · 2026.04.01.

First Term Report

Jin started Year 1 less than a month ago. Here's what her first term feedback looked like — and what Little Learners Love Literacy actually means.

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Lunch Box

MON

Short break from lunchboxes (Yay!)

We often use a divided tray for girls' home lunch — the easiest way to get everyone eating a bit of everything. Today's kids' set: roasted chicken drumsticks, cucumber, miyeokjulgi (seaweed stems), and kimchi. The fried egg is just for Hyun. Different tastes, different plates — but we respect everyone's preferences here. 🙃

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Campus Notes

TUE

Meaningful Encounters

Most of the last week's classes were made up of guest lectures from practitioners in the field. Social workers from organisations like Shakti and Age Concern came to share their experiences — the kind you can't get from a textbook. The tension of real situations, the unexpected moments, and the weight of the real people who exist beyond the pages and screens we study from. A reminder of what it actually means to be a social worker.

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English with Jin

This Week's Expression

“Where's my thank you?”

Jin doesn't usually forget her thank yous and sorrys — but sometimes, when a snack or a toy arrives and the excitement takes over, she's already halfway down the hallway. That's when Mum stops her. "Where's my thank you?" Then she turns around, says a bright "thank you!" with the most polite little bow, and blows a series of kisses. One phrase. All the manners.

StoryPress →

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Local Guide

🗺️

Monthly Event

Try CAB Go!

This April, the Citizens Advice Bureau is running CAB Go — free neighbourhood treasure hunts across 15 Auckland locations throughout April. Grab a printed map from your local CAB or use the smartphone guide to explore your area's hidden history and landmarks with the kids. Completely free, self-paced, and a perfect screen-free adventure for the whole family. Visit cabgo.nz for details.

📚

Holiday Programme

School Holiday with Takapuna Library

Takapuna Library has a free school holiday programme running 7–19 April. Still plenty to catch — Seed Bombs (14 Apr), Bug Hotels (16 Apr), plus weekend movie screenings with free popcorn. Sessions start at 10am — most are first-come-first-served, so arrive a little early.

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From the Archive

Life in Aotearoa

Playground Wonderland

How New Zealand playgrounds changed the way I think about childhood—towering rope gyms, barefoot kids, and watching my three girls grow brave in a new world.

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www.mhj.nz · Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand

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