Te Whānau a Apanui was one of the first rangatahi movements I supported voluntarily to help design a Rangatahi Māori Strategy – a kaupapa inspired by the naming of Kuini Ngāwai Hono i te Pō as our new Māori Queen and driven by a collective response to the political attacks on Māori. Her succession stirred a deep sense of unity and pride, reminding us of the strength and leadership held within our own whakapapa.
The wānanga brought together rangatahi, kaumātua, and hapū leaders to dream big, share stories, and define what it means for Apanui youth to thrive in their own way. Together, we surfaced key aspirations, values, and Pou to guide the direction of the strategy. It was a powerful expression of resistance, identity, and intergenerational hope – and a reminder that the answers are always within our future leaders.
