Tongan fan zone gets green light in Otahuhu

Tongan rugby league fans will be able to celebrate at a fan zone in Otahuhu this weekend. Photo / Doug Sherring

A family-oriented fan zone will be set up for Tongan rugby league fans this weekend.

The event, being dubbed the Famili (family) Fan Zone, is one that has been initiated by the community for the community.

Members of the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board have agreed to help fund the event, which will be held in the main town centre of Otahuhu ahead of the quarter-final match between Tonga and Lebanon in Christchurch, on Saturday afternoon.

Manukau ward councillor Fa'anana Efeso Collins was among Pacific community and church leaders who sat down with police at a meeting last night to discuss options about creating a safe place for Tongan rugby league fans to celebrate freely.

It comes after calls from the community to provide such a space after incidents of disorder led to more than 50 arrests over the last few weeks.

"We're encouraging people to watch the game at home beforehand. We're looking at kicking it off at around 7pm."

Collins said the hope was to create a festival and family-oriented atmosphere, with a church brass band, a DJ and other community groups performing.

The event will officially close at 9pm.

Pacific wardens, church elders and volunteers are also helping with security, as will police.

"It's really just an opportunity for people to get out of their cars, because that's what they're wanting - walking around, dancing and celebrating.''

ROAD CLOSURES IN OTAHUHU:

The public is being advised of several road closures and diversions in the area ahead of Saturday night.

A police spokesman said a section of Great South Rd - between Station Rd and High St - will be closed off and diversions in place between 5.30pm and 1am.

Traffic is to be diverted around the Otahuhu town centre through Station Rd, Hall Ave and Queen St.

There will also be cordons on Atkinson Ave. No vehicles will be allowed through Great South Rd from the side streets linking GSR to Atkinson Ave.

"This is to ensure public safety and a preventative measure to manage congestion and large volumes [of] traffic, as a sizeable crowd is expected to gather in the Otahuhu town centre,'' the spokesman said.