Wairoa has doubled up with two sisters taking part in the nationwide Tuia mentorship programme.

Hope Kaihe-Tahuri and Grace Tahuri are Wairoa’s new candidates for the programme, which is described as an intentional, long-term, intergenerational approach to developing the leadership capacity of young Māori in communities throughout New Zealand.

Nationwide, local mayors select young Māori aged 18-25 from their district to mentor one to one, to encourage and enhance leadership skills.

This year, Council selected Hope, who is Council’s Tourism Information Officer based at the i-Site, and Grace, who contracts to Korou Digital, was nominated by the Taiwhenua.

The sisters have attended their first wānanga and say they are grateful for the opportunity. “We have enjoyed the way Tuia celebrates Māori in a different environment and that we can bring home what we experience and use those learnings in the local community.”

They described the first wānanga as a real eye opener. “It showed us how tight knit the Wairoa community is and that while there were representatives from all over New Zealand, most places are facing the same challenges and struggles.

“We are learning to look into our past to be able to create a better future and it has been really interesting to learn and develop along with a group of other like-minded people.

“It has really been quite soul-fulfilling and has already provided us with different perspectives.

“It has also made us more grateful for our Wairoa community, we have a lot to celebrate.”

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna described Hope and Grace as ideal Tuia representatives.

“I am proud to see them both representing Wairoa, learning from the Tuia programme and using their experience for the betterment of our local community. This is the first time Wairoa has had two representatives on the programme. It’s great to have the Wairoa Taiwhenua as a partner in this great Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs programme to support growing young Māori leaders of the future.”

The Tuia programme runs for a year and includes mentoring, community contribution and wānanga.

19 August 2022

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