A group of young people leading vaccination efforts in Te Tauihu - the top of the South Island - are hoping to boost the rate for Māori youth in the district this weekend.
Tuakana Tuira (left), Louis Pinker-Meihana, Maia Sainty, Te Ao Mārama Nepia, Māreikura Nepia are part of a larger group helping drive the Ngāti Rangatahi initiative to boost rangatahi Māori vaccination rates in Te Tauihu. Photo: Supplied / Ngāti Rangatahi o Te Tauihu
As of Monday, 71 percent of Māori aged under 24 and under across Nelson Marlborough are fully vaccinated, while 83 percent have had a single dose.
The group, Ngāti Rangatahi o Te Tauihu, is led by youth, for youth. It is holding vaccination clinics in Nelson and Blenheim this weekend with free barber cuts, spot prizes and other giveaways.
Group lead Grayson Nepia hopes it will boost vaccination rates before Christmas so more rangitahi are protected before summer.
Formed in October, it is an offshoot of the national Karawhiua promotion. They are supported by Māori health provider Te Piki Oranga, Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust and Nelson Marlborough Health.
The group have made good progress, before its formation the first dose vaccination rates for rangatahi Māori was 32 percent.
Te Piki Oranga have also led a "Wero ora, Haka ora" campaign in conjunction with local kapa haka rōpū and have held Kai and Kōrero events at local colleges to give rangatahi a place to ask questions and find out more about the Pfizer vaccine.
Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust operations manager Dr Lorraine Eade said the efforts of everyone involved were much appreciated.
"We are really proud of the way our rangatahi have taken control of this kaupapa and we think they've been instrumental in reaching rangatahi on platforms like Tiktok where us older ones are not so active.
"Empowering our youth, rather than telling them what to do, has been positive on so many levels and we will look to see how we can continue to ensure this valuable rangatahi voice can remain at the top table."