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“A facelift for Fishbowl”

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Description: This image was published by the Evening Standard on the 15th of June 1979. It depicts the newly appointed director of the 'Fishbowl' youth centre, Mr Pono Hakaria.

The caption read: “Pono Hakaria – on the move”

The article 'A facelift for Fishbowl' read: “FISHBOWL's new director Pono Hakaria has taken over the youth centre's reins and already things are on the move.

Fishbowl's committee and members believe Mr Hakaria - and his previous work experience - will be a great asset.

Mr Hakaria previously owned his own catering and baking business, worked in a newspaper publicity department, and represented freezing workers in many capacities.

He was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to travel to the United Kingdom for six months to study ethnic groups in the Commonwealth, company and industrial management, and industrial law.

He is a past member of the Kawhata Maori Committee, Parewahawaha Maori Committee, St Paul's Club in Feilding, and the Parewahawaha Youth Club.

Since he arrived at Fishbowl, Mr Hakaria has breathed new life into the centre and already future programmes are well on the way to completion and should begin shortly.

The centre itself has had a facelift with club members helping to sand floors, decorate, and do general tidying up.

Mr Hakaria hopes the new Fishbowl sports programme will get under way some time early next month. This will include table-tennis, volleyball, indoor basketball, pool and, hopefully chess evenings.

Reaction from schools to a projected after-school homework programme has so far been favourable, Mr Hakaria said. Seven Massey students have volunteered to tutor youngsters.

Schools are represented on the management committee and Mr Hakaria is hopeful that the centre's six full-time workers will visit local schools regularly to encourage new members to join.

Fishbowl's new outlook and its programme will hopefully dispel any bad publicity the centre has had in the past, Mr Hakaria believes.

"I think things are starting to come right. If the kids can see someone taking pride in their building, they may also start taking pride in it," he said.”