The rangatahi forum held during the first week of the school holidays was a huge success. Sixteen rangatahi spent four days getting to know each other, having fun, learning whakapapa, gathering kaimoana and lots more. We hope this will be the first of many more to come. A huge thank you to all those who gave their time, expertise and support to making it such a wonderful time for our rangatahi. [Read more…]

Chantal Tumahai and Jacob Meihana-Beckett attended the Annual National Youth Forum on Cultural Diversity, representing our Westland District, Mayor Maureen Pugh and Ngāti Waewae Rūnanga. The forum was held in Wellington 23-26 August, and was run in parallel with the New Zealand Diversity Forum.

It was an opportunity for young people from all over the county to come together to discuss and engage in issues relating to cultural diversity. There were approximately 70 rangatahi in total from across New Zealand.

Chantal and Jacob took part in workshops about issues relating to cultural diversity. Jacob attended for the full four-day forum and Chantal the first two days. They both returned home with fresh ideas and new perspectives to share with our rūnanga, the coast communities, youth councils and youth groups. They both found the experience very valuable in supporting them in their development as young leaders within our hapū. [Read more…]