Mairangi Notes #24 — 2026.09.25

MHJ

my mairangi

Issue

#24

2026.09.25

Yussi's Note

Free from Lunchboxes!

And just like that, the Term 3 holidays are here. With so many events, this term has felt rather long. It’s hard to believe there’s only one term left in the school year. I’m still not used to these short, two-week holidays, though there is the small joy of being free from making lunchboxes for a while. I haven’t even finished planning the holidays yet, but it looks like the kids will be busy preparing for various performances and other activities. Here’s to a happy holiday for all of us!

Main Story

Little 15 Mins · 2026.09.25.

Play date Friday

Planning a play date for five-year-olds? How I got the other mums' numbers, collected four girls from school, and what kept them busy for two hours.

Read Story →

Lunch Box

MON

Rice Balls & Nuggets

On busy mornings, last night’s leftovers turn into lunch. I chopped up the stir-fried potatoes and ham from the night before to make rice balls, then added some nuggets we always keep in the freezer. With cheese and fruit as well, Jin’s lunchbox always has the most variety — and it always comes home completely empty, without a single grain of rice left.

Visit our Instagram →

Campus Notes

TUE

Leave me alone, Massey

I’m writing the discussion chapter of my research report, and somehow the deadline is only three days away. This morning, I got an email from Massey: You have assignments due in 7 days. How kind of them. I know already (actually, I didn’t)!! I'm too scared to open my laptop, but too bored not to. Surely this is one of the great dilemmas of the modern postgraduate student.
Now I’m about to sacrifice my whole weekend to MS Word. Oh my God. A deadline during the school holidays, when there is no such thing as peace and quiet.

Visit mhj.nz →

English with Jin

This Week's Expression

“Can you read me a book?”

Last night, Jin stood at my bedroom door hugging a picture book and asked, “Mum, can you read me a book?” These days she mixes English and Korean freely, but every now and then a whole sentence comes out just right, and it still surprises me.
So we read a few books together. When there is a lot of text, she follows along, repeating the words and phrases she catches. When there is only a little, she reads the words she knows, sounds out the letters she can, and tries to blend the sounds together, with a little help when she needs it.

StoryPress →

· Visit mhj.nz →

Local Guide

🎈

Festival

POPS! at We The Young Festival

Daily until Sun 11 Oct, open 24/7 · Free
Six giant characters, each with its own colour, pattern and mood, from sunny to a bit grumpy, have moved into Aotea Square for this art installation by Vesica. They glow like huge night-lights after dark, so it's worth going twice: wander among them, find the one that matches your mood and take a photo. All ages.
📍 Aotea Square, 291-297 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

🌱

Exhibition

The Future of our Fruit

Daily, 10am - 5pm · Free
An interactive digital orchard at Auckland Museum that shows kids why fruit trees need cold winters to flower, and how scientists are using plant genes to help them cope with a warming climate. It's a good one for a rainy holiday day, and a new way to look at the apple in the lunchbox. All ages.
📍 Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland 1010

Visit mhj.nz →

From the Archive

Little 15 Mins

We Hit Pause

She had friends. She was happy. But settling in Auckland wasn't the same as settling into English — so we paused home learning and changed the plan.

Read Story →

Instagram · Facebook · YouTube

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

Enjoyed this? Forward this email to a friend.

You received this because you subscribed to Mairangi Notes. Unsubscribe