Onehunga farewells community stalwart2 min read
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The Onehunga Community House is saying a heartfelt farewell to one of its most dedicated champions. After more than 16 years of service, coordinator Tony Broad has resigned due to health reasons and has moved to Nelson to be closer to family.
Tony began his role at the Onehunga Community House in July 2009, initially working 20 hours a week. As demand for the facility grew, so did his role, expanding to 30-35 hours a week.
Over that time, Tony became a familiar and much-loved presence, helping to shape the Community House into a welcoming hub for people from all walks of life.
He often described the building as a “high-quality heritage space for the people of Onehunga” and took great pride in seeing it used by the community. Under his stewardship, monthly usage grew from around 1,500 people to more than 4,000, with 26 regular groups now calling the space home. These groups reflected Onehunga’s rich diversity: Māori, Indian, Chinese, European, Filipino, Cambodian and Pasifika communities.
Tony’s leadership style echoed educator Thomas Sergiovanni’s philosophy of “getting ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results.” One of his greatest achievements was securing Category 1 heritage status under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act and Category A heritage protection under the Auckland Unitary Plan – a three-year effort that now ensures the former Onehunga Primary School building is preserved for future generations.
Working closely with the legendary Bridget Graham, Tony helped oversee major restoration work, raising more than $1 million without any government funding. Among many highlights, Tony treasured the publication of Legacy and Legend, celebrating notable former Onehunga Primary School students, as well as the filming of Witi Ihimaera’s, Mahana and a production of East of Eden.
Above all, Tony says it is the friendships formed and the people he met along the way that he will miss most. Onehunga will miss him too – deeply and gratefully.
