July 30, 2021
Manurewa Marae gets on with no-fuss vaccination
While health officials hope to give more than 15,000 people their first Covid-19 jabs at this weekend’s mass vaccination in Manukau, nearby Manurewa Marae has already put more than 22,000 shots in people’s arms.
Marae chair Rangi McLean says for the past four months a steady 300 people a day have come through – and unlike the Manukau event, the marae allows walk-ups.
As well as community members, it has vaccinated high profile people like Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Grant Dalton’s Team New Zealand sailors, Tana Umaga and his Blues teammates, and even a couple in their 90s who came down from Orewa for second jabs because they were so overwhelmed by the welcome they got in the first round.
"I'm proud our staff are upholding the Māori world view so to speak while communicating manaaki and awhi," Mr McLean says.
Manurewa Marae is open for vaccinations from 9am to 3pm weekdays and 9am to 1pm Saturdays.
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