Head of Māori Studies at Whangārei Boys’ High School
"My passion has always been the academic, cultural and sporting successes of our rangatahi Māori in schools. I became a high school teacher because I was concerned about the poor academic achievement of Māori students. I have a vision of seeing more Māori from Te Taitokerau, especially Māori boys, succeeding at the highest level at secondary school and then embarking on further education studies at university".
William was born and educated in the Whangārei district and completed a conjoint degree, Bachelors of Teaching and of Arts at the University of Waikato majoring in Professional Education and Japanese. William is involved with numerous Māori Parents’ Focus Groups and for the last ten years has been both a player and rangatahi spokesperson for Māori tennis.
William is currently studying towards a Masters of Education Degree through the University of Waikato, investigating the implementation of additional language learning programmes in Kura Kaupapa Māori settings.
News Reporter, Documentary Researcher, Rangatahi Radio, Senior Staff member at Tai FM
“After being approached by numerous people I agreed to stand for the Māori Youth Council to voice and address the major issues affecting rangatahi within Te Hiku o Te Ika and Te Taitokerau whānui. Through working alongside the Minister of Māori Affairs, the Māori Youth Council and the people back home, I believe we can make a change”.
Harata was born in Rotorua but mainly raised in Te Tai Tokerau. Harata attended Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa until 16 years then went on to graduate from the acclaimed South Seas Film and Television School in Auckland. Harata continued her studies; first at the University of Auckland and then at the University of Waikato before returning home two years ago where she is also now raising her beautiful daughter.
Youth Leader, Te Awaroa Youth Club, Helensville
“I bring a sense of leadership, teamwork, mana, communication skills and broad and open opinions on many subjects involving Māori Taiohi. I have had plenty of theory and practical experience that I will bring to the Māori Youth Council for the benefit of all Māori youth”.
Waratah has lived all her life in Helensville where she attended Helensville Primary and Kaipara College. She is currently completing a Certificate of Tikanga on the Marae at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Waratah organises and strongly supports programmes by Ngāti Whātua primarily aimed at rangatahi development. Waratah has also been a member of the South Kaipara Youth Forum for three years and Chair for one year.
“I am a proud young Māori woman who has a passion for rangatahi. I was raised in Tāmaki Makaurau with the values and knowledge of te iwi Māori. I believe my experience working with my local community, my knowledge of public policies, my hard work ethic and my passion for the kaupapa will support me in making a valuable contribution to the Māori Youth Council”.
Joleen was educated at Queen Victoria School in Auckland and Hukarere College in Napier, where she was Head Prefect in 2004. She also recently graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Māori and Tikanga, and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
Joleen is currently living in Auckland but is still a member of the Māori youth rōpū - Ikaroa Rawhiti Rangatahi Māori. This rōpū encourages rangatahi Māori to vote and educates rangatahi on how they can make a difference in Aotearoa by voting and being part of democratic processes.
Youth Worker, Ngā Wahine Atawhai o Matukutureia (MWWL), Manurewa
“I am absolutely privileged to be chosen as a member of the Māori Youth Council. I believe this is a positive move towards developing strong young Māori leaders and ensuring that rangatahi be inclusive in the evolution of Aotearoa. I see this as an opportunity to serve my community by representing and advocating for the needs and trends of South Auckland rangatahi”.
Mereana is originally from Te Puke and Tauranga. She is currently doing a Bachelor of Youth Work at Manukau Institute of Technology. Mereana graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Leisure in 2007.
Mereana is active in a range of community organisations and initiatives including: being Deputy Chair of Manurewa Youth Workers Network. She’s also involved in Counties Manukau Youth Workers Cluster, Clendon Residence Group, and Manurewa Marae.
“As a young Māori woman passionate about the promotion of our rangatiratanga, I have lived my life according to the values of my parents, grandparents and mātua tūpuna. I see the Māori Youth Council as an opportunity to share my passion for helping my fellow rangatahi Māori to recognise the importance of fulfilling our potential and moving forward as the rangatira mō āpōpō”. Coral is from the Hauraki district. She is currently studying towards a degree in Law and has almost completed a Bachelors degree majoring in Māori and Politics. Earlier this year Coral was selected to be part of the University of Auckland Māori and Pacific Leadership Programme. Entrance into the programme is based on academic achievement, the top 15 percent of Māori and Pacific students are selected. Coral mentored for MATES in 2009. She regularly plays netball, is an administrative/financial assistant at Te Kōtahitanga Training Inc and is an executive member of Te Rākau Ture.
Programme Co-ordinator, Te Piataata Trust, Waitakere
“I have a kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa Māori learning background and was brought up by many kuia and kaumātua. In that respect, I am embedded in the tikanga and mātauranga of my mātua and whānau. I want to encourage future Māori leaders to build healthy, positive and diligent whānau, hapū, iwi and communities, to ensure prosperity for generations to come”
Tyrone is on the Māori Health Gain Advisory Committee for Waitemata District Health Board and is an elected member of the National Youth Employment and Training Network. Tyrone has been involved in rangatahi development in Waitakere for several years. Tyrone is also a proud exponent of te reo me ngā tikanga Māori.
Raukura Hauora o Tainui, Cultural Advisor
“The establishment of a Māori Youth Council is a major step in the right direction for rangatahi development. I am honoured to be part of this kaupapa as I believe rangatahi development needs rangatahi involvement at all levels of the process to succeed. I want to push the issue of reconnection of rangatahi Māori to their whānau, marae, hapū and iwi as these are the things that are unvarying. I also support empowering rangatahi to voice their thoughts about their own future. Mā tātou anō to tātou nei ao e waihanga kia tupu, kia hua, kia puāwai ai te rangatahi. Haere ake nei, haere ake nei”
Huirama has studied Coaching Essentials and Self Leadership at the College of Neuro-Semantics. His community involvements include: Raukura Hauora o Tainui Trust Board Member,Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga Board Member, Raukura Waikato Social Services Board Member, Koroneihana Rangatahi Komiti,Waahi Paa Trustee and the Chairman of Waahi Paa Rangatahi Komiti.
Huirama is interested in a range of sports including Waka. He is an active member and supporter of kapa haka in the Waikato area and has competed in both regional and national competitions. Huirama believes that rangatahi involvement at all levels of development is key to proper succession in all areas
Researcher, Waka Huia, TVNZ
“I am honoured to be a part of the Māori Youth Council and look forward to acting as an advisor and a voice for rangatahi Māori. My intention is to be proactive in the revitalisation and maintenance of te reo Māori for rangatahi today and in the future. My contribution to the council is to push the issues of te reo Māori and kaupapa rangatahi to the fore”.
Kahurangi was born and raised in Ōhinemutu, within the heart of her hapū Ngāti Whakaue. Kahurangi graduated with a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Marketing and Media Studies and also has a Graduate Diploma in Te Reo Māori from the University of Waikato. Kahurangi keeps in touch with her local Māori community through kapa haka, and by tutoring at both secondary school and senior rōpū levels.
“I hope to use the opportunity I have on the Māori Youth Council to strengthen and promote effective services for Māori youth and to identify gaps in youth services. I am committed to voicing the concerns of my peers and will ensure they are part of the Māori Youth Council process by feeding back to them the key ideas and knowledge shared at the Māori Youth Council Hui. I am confident that as a collective the Māori Youth Council can create positive changes for our people and our country and potentially become a role model for other countries to follow”.
Amanda was raised in Rotorua. As a mother, Amanda is eager to create a positive, successful and fulfilling life for her and her child. Amanda is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Applied Social Science at Waiariki Institute of Technology. She aims to work within the Rotorua district to assist young people to realise their potential. Amanda has always had a strong desire to work with young people.
Team Leader, Sales Manager, New Wave Surf Boards, Gisborne
Freyberg Scholar, The Australian National University
“I am passionate about advancing the interests of Māori in all that I do and, likewise, I am passionate about ensuring that rangatahi Māori have a voice. The potential within my generation has never been greater and we need to realise this and not underestimate ourselves. The Māori Youth Council is a fantastic opportunity for rangatahi Māori to support the work taking place at a national level to support the development of our people”.
Areti’s whānau is from Feilding. Areti attended Hato Paora where he was Head Prefect and Dux. He is actively involved in rangatahi organisations in the Manawatu.
In 2007, Areti received the Wellington Community Young Leader Award from the Governor-General and in 2008 he was selected by the Prime Minister as youth delegate at the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Spain. Areti is currently studying in the Master of Diplomacy/ Master of Strategic Affairs programme at the Australian National University.
Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Ōtaki
“I will endeavour to raise the awareness of government political processes among rangatahi; and encourage policy makers to take a Māori world view with kaupapa tuku iho and tikanga playing a key role in the development of policies. I will encourage the participation and contribution of rangatahi by expressing their views and ideas. My contribution will be to represent and voice those views and ideas”.
Te Whatanui is actively involved in his community. His involvements include: being a member of Te Rōpū Pākihi Committee which assists Māori Businesses throughout the Horowhenua region; and Te Huarahi o te ora – a mentoring program to encourage rangatahi of Ngāti Pareraukawa to realise their aspirations.
Receptionist, Media Works Radio, Invercargill
“I identify with common issues that rangatahi face, for example, financial independence, living away from home, finding employment and determining our own life choices. As a mother of a beautiful daughter at the age of 19, I have learnt to balance our lives to incorporate sport, family, and friends and pursue a rewarding career. Part of my development in the Māori Youth Council is to be able to contribute to policy and decisions that affect young people”.
Paschael and her partner are the proud owners of their own home in Waihopai where they live with their three year old daughter. Paschael has lived and worked most of her life in Waihopai. She has always been particularly active in sport; thriving on its challenges and orientation to goal setting. She has represented Southland in netball, basketball, touch, and rugby. Paschael is the Treasurer of the kōhanga reo her daughter attends and she is also studying towards a Diploma in Te Ara Reo Māori at the Southern Institute of Technology.
Last modified: 7/02/2011
