Mana | Movement of the People

 

Mangere – James Papali’i

James Papali’i

Grew up in Mangere is of Samoan/Irish descent James is a father of 6. His third son Kelly was tragically killed in Manuwera in July of 2006. James currently lives with his two youngest boys Jesse 20yrs and Poutoa 15yrs in Mangere. Mr Papali’i was educated at Mangere College and graduated from Auckland University with a B.A in 1984 and a post graduate diploma in Social Policy in 2002.

He started his career as a Social Worker at Mangere Department of Social Welfare in 1986 and resigned to set up the Social Services section of the Mangere East Family Service Centre from 1995-2002.

Mr Papali’i and his associates from Mangere set up the first waka ama club in South Auckland in 1988 called the Manukau Outriggers Canoeing Club where he was the founding Chairperson and is a life time member, and he currently paddles for the Senior Masters Crew. He has trained many youth during this time and he currently trains a senior woman teams on the Manukau Harbour at Mangere Bridge.

Mr Papali’i resigned from M.E.F.S.C in 2002 and was employed by Auckland University as a lecturer in the Social Work degree course until 2006. He was also a Manukau City Councillor representing Mangere from 1998-2006.

Mr Papali’i also chaired the Mangere East Labour Branch Party for the past 15 years recently resigning to take up the challenge of standing for Mangere representing the Mana party. He is well known in the Mangere Community and he currently works voluntarily for the Samoan Fesoasoani Trust which was founded by Alan Tanuelu and his dad Thomas Papali’i who passed away in 2000. James currently works for M.U.M.A as their Kaitoko Whanau Worker in the areas of Mangere, Otahuhu and Papatoetoe.

He plays league for Manukau Magpies master’s team and Rugby for Manukau Rovers Presidents team. He is currently working on a waka ama building project planned for Mangere Bridge Waterfront Road Reserve which has recently been approved for site allocation and resource consents with the organisation he founded namely ‘Manukau Outrigger Canoeing Whare Nui Trust’.