Community voices at the heart of 275 Day 

In a vibrant celebration of the people, culture and creativity of South Auckland, more than 18,000 people filled Māngere Town Centre on 27 May for Twosevenfive (275) Day, a community event bringing together local businesses, youth, families and leaders.

Le Va’s Atu-Mai violence prevention team were at the heart of it all, offering a space to pause and quietly reflect in amongst the music, markets and local talent on display.

At the centre of the Atu-Mai activation was a community storyboard, an invitation to respond to a simple but powerful question: “How can we build a safer and more connected Māngere?”

The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. People of all ages stopped to share their thoughts, experiences and hopes for the future. Themes of kindness, respect, cultural pride and looking out for one another were woven throughout the day, reflecting the deep care that exists within this community.

The storyboard became more than an activity; it became a platform for community voice, a starting point for talanoa, and a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in creating safe and connected communities.

Events like 275 Day show the power of community mobilisation in action: engaging people where they already gather, celebrating local strengths, and building awareness of the support available to individuals and families.

Central to Atu-Mai’s work in violence prevention is the belief that real change happens through trusted relationships. A community leader who embodies this is Savele Refiti or Fitz, co-founder of the Twosevenfive Foundation.

Over the past year, Fitz has partnered with Le Va’s Atu-Mai team to host Men’s and Fathers Fono, creating spaces where men can come together to talanoa about wellbeing, relationships, and family. His mana within the community and his genuine commitment to the people of Māngere reflect the kind of leadership that strengthens protective factors and promotes positive change.

275 Day was a living example of how safer, more connected communities grow from within, by listening to community voices, investing in relationships and finding leaders with a vision of building stronger futures together.

Learn more about Le Va’s Atu-Mai violence prevention programme.