Otara- Defying The Odds

[@bbmb622]

I grew up in Otara, through the 80s - early 2000. Lived in state house, mum was on and off solo mum benefits and factory jobs. I had seen all the gangs, crime, poverty and struggles in the community. ALL OF THAT HAS LAID FOUNDATION FOR ME TO SURVIVE WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT ME!

[@glennysaoake9910]

From 9yrs old I grew up in Otara, lived in Clayton Ave. Flatbush Primary school, Hillary College. we're one the first pupils going to these. schools, whoo 2023 and im watchin this David. Rita. Francis. Gavin whoo 😢 all good friends, Stormtroppers I think Ken was the leader, Mr Johnson, and Mr Hammer 😅 old now forgot his real name. He would hav been called Hulk. if Hulk was out then lol congratulations to yous 👏 ❤so proud of yous all...we all around 70yrs old now thanku for these memories , I ended up buying a home in Wiri but now I live in Melbourne, Australia Bessie Hohepa our other mate lived her too, (that's Ken with helmet on ) , Ben Dalton ,is he Micheals brother ❤️ my brother still lives in Otara on Harwood Cres. and all my nieces and nephews still go to school there and play league for Otara..so proud ❤xx

[@masn2743]

Bruh the real OMCs and OGs of Otara this was a good doco been living in Oz for the last 20 years and Otara will always be home 274 fo life

[@heleneadams455]

My Great-Grandmother lived in Otara for more than 50 plus years. Bairds Road not far from Sandbrook School, Chequers the corner dairy shop, and walking distance to the Otara Shopping Centre. We're a big family born and bred in Mangere 275, but every weekend we would visit our Nanna and our oldest sister whom Nan raised since birth. I remember when we would visit Nan would have alot of empty Coke, Lemonade, Fanta glass bottle's that you could take back to the shop and get a refund back,(wash them out of course). Fruit trees in the backyard were always plentiful. You could even burn your rubbish in the backyard, put down a Hangi Pit, for special occasions because the backyard had alot of room.Those were the good things back then. Miss those days, of 274. If only we could turn back time just for one day. KEEP COOL TILL AFTER SCHOOL.

[@jackmehoff1840]

Moved from Europe to Boundary Rd in 80's, couldnt speak English and on the second day found a box of Taro on our doorstep, forever and always will remember the graciousness and generosity of those who shared what little they had

[@avilik13]

I've lived over half my life in Australia and have travelled the world and no matter where I go I always rep 274. Forever an Otarian.

[@martywarner1779]

... I grew up in Otara 70/80s, it's more like Otala now. Same streets, same shit, different people.

[@Gotti.25]

@@martywarner1779 what's otala?

[@ynotegg]

Otara Forever 💯

[@fuego4k618]

Ao killabeez

[@bp792]

Rawiri lived up the road and we used to yell at him as kids, "Who's looking through the square window?!" (he was on Play School). He used to just laugh - nice guy

[@kevintoto7542]

If you can survive in Otara you can survive anywhere else in the world... Otara is built by Otarians and still is today 2021

[@georgieboi097]

Te Puke O-Tara (Otara) was named after a maori Chief called Tara who lived in the area during pre-european times he lived on a hill overlooking the area ... Te Puke means hill, The hill of Tara .... Ngati Otara marae is where his descendants gather to commemorate their Tipuna TARA

[@adamlauina491]

Wow. Awesome doco on Otara. Brings back memories of growing up in Tin city. Growing up and going to school from Clydemore primary, Bairds Intermediate to Hillary ( Hilarious) college lol. Also great friends and awesome Teachers like Francis Leilua( La) , Ian Mitchell and Mr Mahanga to name a few. My first teacher was Mrs Battersby (3BA) in Te Atawhai with Mr Roa as our Dean and then in 4th form moved on to Te Kohanga. All have left a big imprint in my life and will always remain with me. I’ve only moved to Gisborne but my home will always be Otara.

[@joynteffit1]

Shhhheeeiitt them good ol days where you can play till 9 at night

[@sherylhokianga3]

My Mother Got Her Very First State House In Otara In The Sixties!..I Lived With Her, Until My Man & I Bought Our Very First House In Lappington Rd, Otara Rd, My Kids, Went 2 Bairds Rd School And Hillary College!

[@MagicVato]

Thank you for the Documentary. I was born and raised in Papatoetoe. I now live in the UK but South Auckland will Always be Home!🙌🏽

[@juneheath6878]

Hi I lived in Ingram Crescent Papatoetoe from 1965 till 1967, not a long time but have happy memories. I went to Flatbush School. I live in England now and have done for many years. I love Otara and class this as my home. Wish my parents never came back to England.

[@MagicVato]

June Heath Hi June. Yes I know Ingram crescent. I lived in Papatoetoe since I was born, I came over to England for work in 2006 met an English lass got married had kids and the rest is history. I try to go back to NZ every 2 years to visit my parents and siblings. Thanks for your message. Hope you staying safe from this corona virus! Take care👍

[@juneheath6878]

Magic. Hi and thank you for your lovely message. I often wonder how my life would be planned out if my parents decided to stay in lovely NZ. My youngest brother was born in Henderson Hospital, if I'm correct? My parents are now deceased, and my elder brother is to. Leaving Auckland in July 1967 was the saddest day of my life and my eldest brother too, in fact a week or so before we left Auckland he ran away, wanting to stay in Otara, he made many friends. Thank you again for writing to me, Stay safe in this scary lockdown time. Best wishes fellow Otarain.

[@faa5568]

Buzzy seeing south Aucklanders in Europe !!

[@anthonytanoi6452]

Mr Leilua...an awesome teacher a better man.. but a hard man for sure..

[@solleilua]

Awww Thank you, That’s uncle for yah 🙏🏽 He wanted the best for us all 💯

[@careful1348]

Did his kids or relations go to the Convent or De La Salle , there was also an old Otara town centre video of the Yogi Bear Gang named after corner Dairy the hung out at, they started wearing military gear , would love to see that video again, they looked like educated island kids , maybe i went to school with some of them! this is before the real gangs took over! before they put up the roller doors and the Fire that made one of the big Outlet shops (Farmers maybe ) leave , never to return

[@careful1348]

he even mentions the Storm troopers gang lining the field watching a game of rugby, so they were around then ! were they renamed shortly after this ?

[@Jason_Todd904]

I swear Rawiris hairstyle was the template for all my uncles haircuts💀

[@glennkaraka9037]

Otara is home, where ever I go, lived all over auckland/north but moved back to otara recently and now i feel like im home hahahah

[@gavinmclean6192]

why has doesnt changed? Thank you Rawiri for being truth in 1970's .. humans may grow up and be wiser? To be honest.. I walk your path shaking our head. No Rawiri.. humans are not that wise. They keep excusing themselves... God is made in the image of a human. .. the 2 legged species are ordinary and slow. Thank you Rawiri for your fight un heard . Can only wish them all the best for the next 1000yrs or whenever

[@raymondnaicovi9094]

Gilbert road was where I was bought up straight across the road from shops in the 80s otara is always home away from home beautiful doco👌

[@kevintoto7542]

Me too I grew up on franich St in the 80s... That's when eggie and the fijians owned the fish n chip shop. Good people

[@adamlauina491]

lol. I lived on Bentley road. I’m pretty sure you both would remember the shop owners back then ( The Prems ). The GRB boys on Gilbert. Me and my brothers all worked on the milk run with Rex our boss back then on his old green ford truck. Life in Otara was awesome back then, she’s changed now but will always be my home.

[@terryharris1291]

Otara was our family home for 33 years from 1973. Harwood Cres.

[@terryharris1291]

I left school in 1973 and went to work at Southdown meat works.

[@terryharris1291]

To this day when people ask where I come from I say Otara.

[@glennysaoake9910]

my brother still lives on Harwood Cres David Aoake . my friend May Walters use to live there to and my nephew William lives there..now..

[@terryharris1291]

@@glennysaoake9910 Nice to hear that.Go well.

[@mandmprproductions7640]

God bless you all for sharing your truths and experiences xx never forget OTARAAAAA!!! Our communities build communities😀🥰💯💖💯💢💥💫Love my Otara xxx

[@lift4life332]

Mr Leilua was one of the best teachers at Hillary. Keeped all the kids in there place.

[@vailima49aston99]

Proud to be raised in Otara Sandra Ave my childhood home FOREVER!!

[@waitiwaita6993]

Oml I thought only we stuck knives in the door lol and yes for safety reasons.

[@teokotaiandrew3472]

Thats my hometown and my life started in that beautiful place. Proud kiwi from Otara 274, Mangere 275, Manurewa 276, Otahuhu 273, Beautiful documentary.

[@veisinialoamanu5186]

Where ever l go and where ever l may be Otara will always be my home 😘😘😍😍

[@toebangah7705]

Never lived in Otara...spent many holidays there with whanau in the early 90s...still looks the same till this day lol

[@tanacz5505]

They came in to deal to us and they got dealt to. Lmao.

[@ritchyrich914]

Spent every school holidays in otara, Wymondley 274 all day.

[@vking5665]

That has been a sentiment that has served me well for most of my life ... To Quote Ben Dalton “ What’s the piece of Otara that I’m carrying ? Sometimes when I’m being hassled by somebody I often sit there thinking You know “ Not only am I more intelligent than you, ... I could probably demolish you physically too “ You never have to actually do it... you just keep it in your mind. Yes ... that’s there “ 😎👌 Home .. Perth St across the creek from Hillary College. Schools MP .. BI .. TC (Multiple snippets in Foster). Brought back long forgotten memories. Who remembers as kids running around the next day after the drunken parties checking under the couch cushions looking for the loose change the piss head adults dropped. 🤣 20 cents could buy 3 bottles of milk, & a loaf of bread. (Or a lot of lollies) Comics only cost 10 cents. Moose & I were set for a week after one of dads party’s. If we didn’t get shipped out on our occasional excursion to welfare.🤭

[@patsyhodge9071]

Growing up the hard way? Peace and blessings to you.

[@NoProb4Rob]

Great historical footage. A lot of these old houses will make way for new housing, as it is in Northcote, and so it's important to record these places and experiences before they are only memories.

[@PCgonemad-ih9pr]

Fantastic documentary, this stuff was once on TV,

[@camwells9726]

I’ve been living in Australia for 30 years , really enjoyed this , brought back memories

[@walter-jameswilding9136]

Oh my gosh that's me getting baptized at church ahh🙈

[@NoProb4Rob]

I just read your comment as I was watching that part of the doco :-)

[@walter-jameswilding9136]

oh my gosh hahaha thank you

[@trashoverwatchplayer5897]

Amazing doco about our beautiful hometown Otara... Also great to see a teacher from Hillary College now SEHC, Mr Francis Leilua.

[@benpotaka5893]

Great story of NZ history

[@nzstarwarsn00b]

my cousin was in the Stormtroopers when they lived in Ivon Rd. Lots of Raro's living there...

[@Te562]

I miss Otara i l was educated at Clydemore then Bairds and Hillary in 1968 to 1977 Otara Rd. G. Then in 1990 to 1993. Franich st. 😊 NO FEAR! Survival😅

[@darththursday9152]

Hey Teresa who did you know at clydemore?

[@Te562]

​@@darththursday9152 yes i did, in late 60s then to bairds Intermediate 2yrs then Hillary College. in 1975. My friends were Trudy Kisioni and Deborah Clayton and Rangi Wiki and Raweyn Wiki. Lorriane smith, Denise Dalton, Anna Leilua, students, The boys i remember in my class were Gregory Baggs and Kimiora Maxwell, Ian Anderson, many more cant remember haha

[@darththursday9152]

@@Te562 hey thanks for replying Teresa,I know four familys with the surnames you mention ,Smith's,Anderson's,Baggs,Maxwells

[@louiskatipa9620]

il never forget lappington rd good memories

[@_c_j_s_world.x5250]

Julian the beautiful dead end street

[@charkay192]

Awesome vid!! The stories are so inspiring!! Thankyou

[@kat274rumiz5]

Beautiful story. 👏👏👏

[@greylynnjr]

Papatoetoe was like the pakeha side before indians

[@greylynnjr]

What we are from is nothing to do with what we will become A for attitude and O for david tua

[@cardinia1]

chur for the upload for the nostalgia

[@evileast2136]

Dawson rd, Flat bush ,Crown cres ,Ferguson rd,Penion drive, Dosina place afew to name OT274

[@teeznuts5066]

Pearl baker

[@southlondon86]

Sounds like US gang areas.

[@amandatory7]

Kudu Street

[@sherylhokianga3]

A Scene From “ Once We Were Warriors” Was Filmed In Our Street Lappington Rd Otara!

[@PCgonemad-ih9pr]

Ok if you see "Jake Da Muss, tell me he owes me $2.80

[@martywarner1779]

Most of it was filmed in Flatbush... A lot of good/bad memories ... At least my memories are balanced. Lolz

[@xseiga625]

watching this on fb rn

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

Paratene and Leilua talking about Hells Angels way back when......prob the 1st and last they ever rode thru 274 bc for damn sure id NEVER seen their Patches rollin' thru The Hood since my years growing up there lol salute to Ben Dalton, riL to Paul "Facekilla" Dalton

[@funkvibesngoodtimes5764]

RapidFire Muzik™ RIP to the Great Face Killa!!

[@onetwo6675]

@ RapidFire Muzik™ YEAH THE STORM TROOPERS HAD A SHOOT OUT WITH THEM 83-84 FLEA MARKET CARPARK

[@_c_j_s_world.x5250]

Ted Harris og barb. Sid tahere

[@joehall2667]

this is abrilliant doco. It sh.ould be shown in a of schools to show that you can succeed in life regardless of the circumstance around you

[@geensjc]

So empowering ✊🏽

[@macpakinga1271]

Met raiwi in dunedin when he was protesting ❤ middle of city 👍then again at his pad. & play school ❤😂. Like to say thank you. 🎸

[@dionmoke1848]

Lovely doco....

[@magnusgrey3595]

Should be one of the first things the juniors watch when they attend Hillary, and that's coming from a former student (1990-1995)

[@darththursday9152]

I remember that place lived there for years..Otara rd..there was a farm next to Hillary college & rubbish dump where the soccer field & the marae is.

[@ktu-co4cv]

Yo!!!! Daddaaaaa

[@lizzytahitahi3882]

True I was born and bread in auckland but lived wit .y aunty an uncle in otahuhu 8yrs of age an went to hillary collage

[@Hootakai]

Rawiri Paretini is a Da Man!!

[@twosevenfourstroke7385]

Zelda ave right here Otara allday

[@tablatom]

Is the Maori man with the Orange/Mango coloured Tee shirt the actor in Whale Rider who plays the tribe chief?

[@baydrixnewzealandwarrobotf2681]

tablatom yip

[@mistymountainhopper]

Āe

[@aksouthauckland92]

Any more old school footage? 🔥👍🏽

[@JOZA274]

Francis leilua gangsta asf! Lol..Otara road to Franich st to Gilbert road to lappington to ashton ave represent!

[@_c_j_s_world.x5250]

Gilbert gold Julian place ogz

[@Bob-Ross607]

"A recipe for disaster" lol

[@MFBOOM100]

I remember when street gangs surged during 2000 - 05 years lmao crazy times

[@johnoakes4143]

Iso Joe there was a fight at the shopping centre and it became known as “ Otara chopping center”

[@MFBOOM100]

@@johnoakes4143 yeah that was way back in the post dawn raid era

[@freelancerconverse4413]

Otara has always had a street gang culture. Back in the 80s I remember Yogi boys, Flatbush boys, ET boys, Gilbert rd boys, Samoan Warriors, Cowboys, Pearl Baker boys, Catholic boys, SAS (sth akl street kids) P.I.C boys the list goes on. I lived off Hills rd.

[@nyllneksif2574]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@adambamf9365]

man those sub hits are sick rip SUB 1:52

[@meow-bi6me]

Omg when was this filmed

[@bkkal3082]

That was my barn

[@sal8331]

Did you guys say lessgooooo back then ?

[@lizzytahitahi3882]

I remember dose hey days lol😅

[@pop1626]

I Was born in 1961.......Aranui Boy.

[@2175Wook]

What year was this ?

[@shanngatihine5500]

Alexander Crescent.

[@mrmrswade4801]

Otara always, clydemore primary,baird's intermediate, Hillary college, living here taught me one thing, to survive......

[@Gotti.25]

30:03 😂😂pyscho kient

[@tinanz985]

😂😂😂😂

[@bettyofe-grant8451]

Perth Street Otara, Hillary College 274!!

[@darththursday9152]

Anyone know the Wilson's?? used to live on Gilbert Rd

[@scottholmes8374]

yes they started the Tribesmen Vern and Darcie Wilson i went to school with the younger sister Robin the good old days

[@JMS849]

He said whoever planned the community did it wrong but i dont believe it. This is strategically done by the government

[@fakalaka2989]

'274hard🗣

[@S50075]

Damm those house still there or they look the same

[@joen5723]

Give your hearts to Jesus Christ

[@TargetedinNZ]

😇❤❤❤👍

[@butterchicken9749]

cooper cress 2018

[@amandatory7]

My Grandparents lived on Cooper Cres and we lived on Kudu. That street had a great community and by the looks of Xmas still does .

[@nzprotectionofficer6435]

Notice the graffiti and mess everywhere, don’t get that in remuera, so just goes to show how certain people live

[@b20f08]

68-76. Bairds and Ferguson Intermediate. Hillary College. 274 for life.

[@amandatory7]

Sandbrook and Clover Park love

[@daxngaha7668]

Otara Johnston's rd

[@bp792]

Mayfield Get Fresh Steak 'and Cheese pies

[@manolitotimoti3961]

I was brought up in otara I went to flat bush then to Ferguson intermediate then tongaroa college

[@tanacz5505]

Hwy 61 Otara

[@_c_j_s_world.x5250]

Sonny oneroa EMERG LOL

[@risenwarfare]

opening line is "migrant maori...etc" ? how does a maori migrant in their own land

[@lovernotafighter2976]

Cosmo plce 274❤❤❤❤

[@patsyhodge9071]

Isnt Sharon lovely?

[@davecampbell5176]

This Video doesn't do much for image of Maori and PIs in Otara.

[@funkvibesngoodtimes5764]

How so?

[@Zoomin236]

236

[@careful1348]

Yeah sure was one of the first Ghettos but as you see here, it didnt start that way and i always felt at home in Bolton pl, our street of owner occupied families mostly, yeah the Islanders moved in and took over, by share numbers and the rest left on their way to a better life, we had poms and dutch as well as Kiwi neighbours, always remember the Islanders choir singing and the volleyball at Hillroad park next door, they demolished our fence helping themselves to our orchard , but that was the way it was , i left and came back many times , the missionaries , be it the Otara Convent and church helped educate us( the lucky ? few thousand )and later De La Salle(boys) and McCauley (girls) Also 99% islanders by 1980, so we were not all illiterate, having spent a year at Hillary( most students had no real teachers and were not interested , just waiting for factory job, my mate a pom was just intent on causing mischief and we would scab money for lunch usually or go home as i did and watch tv with mum who was on DPB on account my dad was in and out of work as he was diagnosed as schitzo as youth and had lots of shock treatment throughout his life and liked to drink , but they did their best and we had a home. Later on, after leaving area, things got worse with kids street gangs and my brothers dog was killed because the youth gangs liked to cut through our property i think , anyway cops were there one night with guns im told ,to stop the youth gangs being violent Funny too , our quiet street became Notorious overnight when a neighbours youngest son , who i knew , that had a troublesome life , with gangs , alcohol and drugs ended up killing his dead Dads Tai second wife and her brothers life was in balance because he felt house should have been left to his Family!( used a maori club(stick) or similar and was probably under influence Also talking about Notorious , The guy who ended up in prison for most of his life probably, was at one stage sent to the Maori ? run Military School up Preston rd way, for wayward youths and i think he learnt how to use War club(stick) there and im sure if someone did research they would find the worst offenders including rapists and violent offenders were there too , which probably had a bad effect on the Neighbour in Question( i have a feeling the Mangere rapist? was one of them or maybe the Parnell Panther ? but i read it somewhere or saw documentary, Anyways was probably not a good idea to chuck all the bad eggs in one basket (isnt that what they do in prison) and thats why the gangs run it, maybe thats what happened later on in Otara, or was The Otara Chopping mall named after the axing of a gang member during a brawl in 70s when i was kid and i didnt realise how cheap life was in South Auckland , i suppose being bottled and going to Otahuhu Police to make complaint and being told to go away , wasting their time ! Shows how inadequate the system is and was, now the police presence in South Auckland is huge compared to any other area aside from maybe West Auckland and i dont know if thats a good thing as a lot of new migrants choose better areas to live now and the Police presence in better areas is spread pretty thin, as rich people as we know? dont commit violent crime , just fraud and paedophilia?

[@funkvibesngoodtimes5764]

Thanks for sharing your experience brother from that era. We always knew that that there were our white brothers & sisters that were there before us in Otara. I think it’s important to acknowledge that because we never got to experience that ourselves of my generation.

[@wallacehaumaha2678]

Maori aren't migrants here there people of the land..pakeha are migrants

[@tinanz985]

💯 facts!!!!!

[@kevinclarke3661]

Same old story people that make it do it overseas in NEW ZEALAND we are kept poor

[@teokotaicarnahan2766]

Otara chopping center. 274

[@bp792]

I remember the day it happened and the aftermath - it was really sad

[@onetwo6675]

YES I WAS RIGHT THERE BESIDE THE OLD MC DONALD'S AT A CARAVAN FOOD SPOT WITH MY DAD & 2 OLDER SISTERS

[@lift4life332]

I was there.it was on a Saturday.

[@stewarttipene4332]

Im originally from OTARA

[@ohtubauftpz1323]

FUCCIN TRI3SMEN KO OTARA BTW HOME OF THE 3RAVE ! SALUTE TO THE OG'Z. 3ANGN CCITY TMC TE WAIPOUNAMU FTW KO TMC FTW !

[@jwilliams6658]

Chur ow play school fallah!

[@djbutterchicken]

chur

[@nickiminajj3119]

That place is hideous

[@funkvibesngoodtimes5764]

You know what’s more hideous? Your face

[@ksmithson2859]

@@funkvibesngoodtimes5764 awesome doco bro, more more!

[@lbradshaw6817]

@@funkvibesngoodtimes5764 😂😂

[@clintfatulauoletolo8621]

Manaia I bet the place where your from is more hidious 😂

[@jonyfreston256]

Manaia is from flat bush the white area😂