Mairangi Notes #2 — 2026.04.17

MHJ

my mairangi

Issue

2026.04.17

Yussi's Note

How was your weather this week?

After a weekend spent sheltering from cyclone warnings, we've returned to New Zealand's typical dance between rain and sunshine. As we wrap up the last week of school holidays with the girls' cheerful chaos, I wonder — how was your weather? The MHJ house has been a whirlwind of art books filled with colourful drawings, notebooks brimming with essays, and the soundtrack shifting between Roblox and piano melodies. While the children enjoyed their holidays, there was also a mum heading off to school. I hope your week has been just as bright and varied.

Main Story

Little 15 Mins · 2026.04.15.

Love You Too, Mummy Monster

Jin is five, Korean-fluent, and learning English and Korean literacy at the same time. Here's what bilingual support looks like at home in Auckland.

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Lunch Box

MON

Katsuball Curry Rice

Lunch the day before Methodology draft submission. Frozen katsu balls, frozen veggie mix, store-bought curry powder. The plating — the last shred of a mother's dignity.

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Campus Notes

TUE

Last days of Semester 1

I've finished my final lectures of the semester. The last block course was Applied Research — an in-depth look at the thesis writing process. Even though writing is my profession, academic writing is an entirely different beast. Every single line demands proper evidence, and that's proving quite challenging. While we're not all at the same stage (actual thesis work happens with our individually assigned supervisors), we're all carrying the same load, walking steadily forward. Trusting that we'll all reach the same destination, eventually.

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English with Jin

This Week's Expression

“Nighty night.”

Our bedtime routine includes a string of goodnight wishes that go back and forth several times. Jin has learned to echo my greetings and now often starts the exchange herself. We cycle through "Nighty night," "Love you," "Happy dreams," and "See you in dreams." This bedtime ritual feels like gently closing the day for her.

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Local Guide

🎨

Exhibition

The Big Draw: Art in Motion

Mairangi Arts Centre transforms into an interactive playground from April 22–May 16, blurring the line between creator and spectator. Try your hand at still life drawing, join LIFTa's breast cancer awareness event (Sunday May 3), build fairy homes for the outdoor installation, or drop into Friday sessions for rangatahi (ages 16-25). It's hands-on, community-focused, and celebrates "the simple joy of making." Perfect for families wanting real art experiences, not just gallery gazing.

🌺

Public Holiday

ANZAC Day

This ANZAC Day falls on Saturday, April 25, which means Monday April 27 becomes a public holiday under New Zealand's "Mondayisation" rules. Dawn services and parades happen across Auckland on the actual date — over 80 events throughout the city, including the main service at Auckland Domain (6am). Attend a local service, watch the parade, then spend the long weekend at war memorials or take the kids to the Museum's ANZAC displays. A meaningful break in the new term.

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From the Archive

Life in Aotearoa

School Festival

The school festival was coming. Min announced she'd run her own booth with her best friend—writing names in Hangul.

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

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