Injury free celebrates international day of older persons

Injury Free Counties Manukau, in partnership with Manukau City Council, is celebrating United Nations International Day of Older Persons with the launch of a Pasifika calendar at Mangere Town Centre on Monday, 1 October.

The calendar contains injury prevention messages and aims to raise awareness of injury issues relating to older people and their families. It is a creative way to get injury free messages into the home.

Injury Free Pacific Coordinator Caroline Harris says, "Many Pasifika families take on the care and responsibility of looking after older family members, the practice is embedded in their culture. For example within the Samoan context it is called 'Matua Tausi.

"Elders are held in such high respect that families are reluctant to pass on the care of their older people to strangers. The two most precious age groups are the new born and the elderly for they are considered the custodians of the keys to the past and the future.

"Manukau's population is rapidly aging. The celebration acknowledges this, as well as the important part older people play in our community," says Caroline.

The celebrations kick off at 10am at the Mangere Arts Centre with the opening of an exhibition of the stunning photographs featured in the calendar.

Other events planned for the day include performances by Pasifika cultural groups, and fitness displays on the town centre's main stage, book, art and craft displays at the library and community services information stands.

Media are welcome to attend the opening of the exhibition and calendar launch.

What: Celebration for United Nations International Day of Older Person and launch of Injury Free calendar and art exhibition
Where: Mangere Arts Centre, Mangere Town Centre, Bader Drive Mangere
When: 10am Monday, 1st October