He was supporting a team of businesses and volunteers.

They wanted children of low-income families to know the excitement of receiving presents at Christmas.

Tua's appearance happened at Otara's St John the Evangelist Catholic School.

He was taking part in a present drop in all Otara schools over five days.

The Child Abuse Prevention Foundation set up the Christmas present drop.

It hoped to raise enough money to pay for 10 thousand presents.

Each present consists of educational books and outdoor activities.

It gave them to babies and children up to the age of 13 years.

One of the organisers, Puti Taufa, says she knows there are families in Otara that need the help.

"Some of our kids don't get presents and so this is our way of giving back," she says.

Tua took part as his wife helped organise the present drop.

Community groups and social services combined for the distribution.

Many businesses donated money to pay for the presents.

In addition, many donated staff time.

Fundraising continues to pay for the presents, which each cost about $10.

Tua says his family didn't have much when he was a kid.

"But you have to be creative and make your own little fun," he says.

Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff, also attended a drop.

Goff says poverty prevents people reaching their potential.

"You can't [achieve] if you're living in cold or damp or you don't get the same opportunities in life."

Future Present Drops

While this events winds down, there is talk now of expanding the project to other Auckland suburbs.

In that case, community leaders in each would be responsible in their own suburb.

The Child Abuse Prevention Foundation set up a Give A Little page to help pay for the presents.

Source:

• Radio NZ
• Maori Television
• Stuff
• YouTube

The service's old building was damaged by fire last year so its staff have taken up residence next door at 12 Otara Rd.

The service has staff who use a faith-based approach to social work, counselling, prison chaplaincy and working with other agencies.

Issues raised often relate to housing, debit, alcohol and drug abuse, immigration matters and domestic violence. Continue reading

The Catholic Church is extending its social services arm across the region.

Bishop Pat Dunn has blessed and opened the new southern base of Catholic Social Services at St John the Evangelist Church in Otara.

Previously the service had just one office in Ponsonby and its South Auckland patrons were forced to travel across the city.

Auckland's Catholic Social Services was founded in the 1930s to support families under pressure during the difficult times resulting from the Great Depression. Continue reading

The report claims Pacific people now have the highest unemployment, the lowest incomes and a widening income gap that could mean they're left behind when the economy recovers.

The average Pacifican income is $479 a week compared with $721 for non-Pacific adults, which represents an increase of just $2 in five years for Pacific adults, compared with $54 for everyone else.

One of the report's authors, Ronji Tanielu, says the huge income gap and painfully slow growth in pay affects everything from housing, to problem debt and putting food on the table.

Mr Tanielu says there's been a big spike in demand from Pacific families for Salvation Army food parcels, budgeting advice and drug and alcohol addiction services.

Speaking with CathNews, Parish priest of Otara, Auckland, Fr Brian Prendeville SM, agrees with the report's findings.

Fr Prendeville says he is noticing an escalating demand on the parish's social outreach programmes.

"We've a lot going on in the parish to help, and we've noticed a marked increase in the call on our family services, food parcels and counseling.

"Our parish branch of St Vincent de Paul is also reporting increased activity," Fr Prendeville said.

Fr Prendeville said that some have used the excuse of the economic recession to benefit themselves.

"Pacificans need to be paid a just and comparable wage", he said.

It is a story echoed by the Auckland Diocese's Catholic Caring Foundation.

Clare Wade, General Manager says that this year the Foundation received a record level of grant applications and it has a huge challenge allocating $650,000 towards families in chronic hardship.

"We have seen a massive jump in requests for help with food-parcels, budget advice, emergency housing and problem gambling.

"Pacific Island families without homes or incomes are the group most affected by poverty in Auckland," Wade said.

Salvation Army urges NZ Government action

The Salvation Army is urging the Government to revive its Pacific Wave unit of work brokers and extend Pacific youth training schemes.

The report's authors say that unless something is done to reduce unemployment and lift Pacifican income, Pacificans will need more handouts and debt to loan sharks will only get worse.

Finance Minister Bill English says the Budget 2013 will help the most vulnerable people in society "who the Government has served very poorly in the past".

Mr English told TVNZ's Q+A programme, Sunday, "Closing that gap is a pretty big challenge."

Pope urges Catholics to seek out those needing help

Speaking, Sunday, from the steps of St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis lamented a world where homelessness and hunger was not news.

"If we step outside of ourselves, we will find poverty," he said, repeating his call for Catholics to do more to seek out those on the fringes of society who need help the most.

"We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most)," he said.

Sources

• Radio New Zealand
• NZ Herald
• Huffington Post
• Image: Bay of Plenty Times