09/11/2025
He toru ngā rā i whakakotahi ai tātou i raro i te maru o te wānanga, hei whakanui i te mātauranga, te oranga, me te wairua rangatahi.
Over the past three days, we gathered as one rōpū — learning, reflecting, and uplifting one another through Youth Mental Health First Aid. It has been a time of connection, kōrero, and aroha, strengthening our ability to awhi rangatahi and each other in times of need.
On the final day, we embraced the beauty of creation — learning to weave our own Puawai, a reflection of how beauty can grow from our life experiences. Each thread carried a story, a moment of healing, and the strength of our collective journeys.
We also carved our own taonga pounamu — toki breastplates and roimata, each piece a sacred reminder of the resilience, courage, and aroha within us all. These taonga hold the wairua of the hands that shaped them, and the mauri of the people we have become through this kaupapa.
To our rōpū — ngā mihi aroha, ngā mihi whakamānawa ki a koutou katoa. Thank you for showing up with open hearts, for your laughter, your stories, and your willingness to grow together. The bonds formed will remain long after the wānanga has ended.
This kaupapa was proudly delivered by Ka Hikitia, and sponsored in part by Te Waka Whaiora through the Kia Piki te Ora programme. Ngā mihi nunui ki a koutou mō tō koutou tautoko, aroha, me te whakapono ki tēnei mahi rangatira.
He kaupapa rangatira, he wairua kotahi, he oranga ngākau.
Ngā manaakitanga o te wā ki a koutou katoa.
