A programme where mayors mentor rangatahi to become leaders is helping bridge the gap between local democracy and Māori culture.
Participants in Tuia, from left to right: Sirtori Eade, Cassidy Temese, Jim Mylchreest, Sophia Wairoa Harrison. Photo / Waipa District Council Photo: Wairoa District Council
The Tuia programme is a long-term intergenerational approach to develop the leadership capacity of young Māori in communities throughout New Zealand.
Set up by the Mayors Taskforce For Jobs (MTFJ) in the late 2000s, the programme involves local mayors selecting up to two rangatahi from their district to mentor on a one-to-one basis, to encourage and enhance leadership skills.
The monthly mentoring involves informal and formal meetings and events, civic functions, leadership wānanga, and training to assist the young person's development as a local leader.
MTFJ chairperson and Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter said about 45 to 50 mayors including himself and 55 rangatahi aged between 18 and 24 were currently taking part in Tuia, with each mentoring relationship lasting a year.
He said the programme gave both partners the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into intergenerational issues, cultural values and experiences.
"It's a dual-role thing where not only do we get to mentor our rangatahi and teach them what it is to be a leader in local government, but we also get to learn from them what it's like to be a young Māori in 2021."
Baxter pointed to former mentee, Luke Moss, who was this week voted onto the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, as one example of the programme's success.
Luke Moss Photo: Supplied
Moss, 25, said Tuia changed his life.
"Tuia's life-changing I think, personally. It changed my life. It gave me confidence in the Māori world. It gave me confidence in governance spaces. It gave me confidence in any environment I engage with in terms of leadership. It gave me strong connections to rangatahi Māori from across Aotearoa."
The former Te Kūiti High School student, who affiliates with Te Pirurutanga-mō-ngā-uri-ō-Puku Marae and Te Kuiti Pā, was 23 when he took part in the programme in 2019 under the mentorship of former Waitomo mayor Brian Hanna.
His advice to rangatahi on the programme now was to take advantage of five wānanga throughout the year.
"Trust the process and you will get everything you need to get out of it."
Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest is mentoring two rangatahi this year including former Cambridge High School student Sirtori Eade and former Melville High School head girl Sophia Wairoa Harrison.
Mylchreest said both young wāhine had huge potential and it was a privilege to work with them.
"For me, it's a no-brainer. Building young leaders, who will give back to our community and enhance relationships between Māori and non-Māori is an investment in the district's future."
Throughout the year Mylchreest would oversee a 100-hour community project each would undertake, while the rangatahi would attend five wānanga in different parts of the country to build networks, obtain support and be exposed to a diverse range of perspectives.
Mylchreest would help them understand local government and the impact the work of councils and the wider sector has on their community.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, who wants more civics and citizenship education in schools, is also part of the programme, which she said was largely funded by councils.
Rangatahi in full-immersion schools are also getting some civics and citizenship education.
At New Plymouth's kura kaupapa, Te Pihipihinga Kākano Mai i Rangiātea, students study national elections, although they do not currently study local elections.
Amorangi, or head teacher, Niki Chapman said parliamentary elections were widely discussed and teaching resources were readily available.
"The resources are there and the planning is done so all you have to do is brief yourself and teach it."
Chapman said most students wouldn't know who the mayor was, and teaching resources that were dedicated to local democracy could make a difference.
She said students would support Māori wards because of social media publicity and family conversations, but would not necessarily understand how the ward elections worked.
Students were more interested in Te Ātiawa and Taranaki iwi elections because they knew whānau members on those boards and were involved in tribal kaupapa.
"We are out and about in kaupapa Māori as much as we can so there's a real connection between the kaupapa and the trustees… There's personal relationships or they know of them so those conversations flow naturally."
Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the News Publishers' Association and NZ On Air.