Are Pa Metua welcomed 2023, happily catching up with their friends at the centre for the elderly - their first day back for the year.

“The new year has started in a good way for us and everyone is happy to be back here,” said Are Pa Metua coordinator Moana-O-Liliuokalani Marsters.

“And our numbers have increased, we now have nearly 40 Pa Metua coming to our centre,” she said.

“It’s good to see we have more Mamas and Papas coming.

“It’s the people in here that makes the building look nice.”

Marsters would like to encourage  the elderly who are sitting at home doing nothing to go along to the centre and interact with people, “why stay home alone, come along and join in the activities,” she said.

The Are Pa Metua started back this week and opens on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am, transportation pickups for the elderly start at 9am on these days, around the island.

Currently the members are working hard to raise funds to purchase a new car for transportation.

“We started fundraising for new vehicle last year and we have a lot of work to do to raise more money; we have decided to get a car as the van is too high for the elderly to get into,” said Marsters.