Kia ora e te whānau,

Welcome to the November edition of Pakaru Pānui! This month, we’re turning the spotlight on our much-anticipated show, which was definitely the highlight of the season.

Alongside the show, there’s been plenty more happening across our kaupapa, As always, Pakaru Pānui is here to keep you in the loop—sharing our stories, milestones, and the journeys we’re walking together.

So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us as we celebrate everything that makes our whānau strong, vibrant, and full of potential.

Mauri ora,
The Pakaru Pānui Team

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November Highlight - ‘Undiscovered’ - Our 2024 Youth Production

This month, our rangatahi brought their show Undiscovered to life, tackling youth suicide prevention and incarceration through a modern retelling of ancient pūrākau (stories). The performance highlighted how these stories continue to provide solutions to contemporary challenges.

The show’s success showcased the incredible talent, resilience, and vision of our rangatahi. Many stepped out of their comfort zones, demonstrating significant growth and unlocking new interests. We’re excited about the opportunities this experience has created for them and for the future of Undiscovered.

“You must be super proud of what your rangatahi are achieving. It takes courage and discipline to project yourself on stage. They may not realise it, but your rangatahi are putting themselves out there as role models for what is possible, so it is a win-win all round.”

-Roger, Napier City Council

We took our show ‘Undiscovered’ from rehearsal to the stage, sharing the production with communities. The journey began with a trip to Hamilton to perform at a local youth centre, Zeal.

Our Hamilton show was followed by two sold-out shows at the MTG Century Theatre in Napier. The dedication and creativity of our rangatahi brought the show to life in a way that left a lasting impact on all who attended—from council members and social service providers to kura, rangatahi, friends, and whānau.

The MokoBoys have kicked off a series of training and development wānanga with Whaea Lydia, a talented NZ Registered Nutritionist with expertise in market gardening and composting, including Bokashi techniques. The first session focused on kūmara planting, where valuable mātauranga was passed on by Aunty Hanui from Aunty’s Garden in Waipatu.

Over the coming wānanga, our rangatahi will delve deeper into soil health and composting practices. These skills will empower them to support our kaumātua in nurturing their māra kai and strengthening the connection between whenua, whānau, and wellbeing.

We had the opportunity to take a small group of our rangatahi to Pōneke for the final leg of the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi. The rangatahi embraced the kaupapa fully, creating their own signs, flags, and jackets to wear and proudly display during the hīkoi. The journey began at 3am walking from Pito-One to Wellington City. There were thousands of people gathered in solidarity. We walked around Waitangi Park and made our way up to Parliament, where we listened to influential figures such as Eru-Kapa Kingi, Hana-Rāwhiti and members of Te Pāti Māori, all of whom carried the kaupapa with passion and purpose.

It was an empowering moment for our rangatahi, who stood tall with pride in their Māori identity and reflected on the legacy of our tipuna who fought so fiercely for us to get this far. Over the course of the day, we walked over 32,000 steps — not one complaint was heard, only a collective sense of commitment and sacrifice for a kaupapa that is far bigger than any individual.

As we come to the end of the year we thought it would be fitting to host a special break-up event for our rangatahi, filled with fun and festivities. The day featured a delicious hākari (prepared by Little Miss Ringawera and the whānau 🤤), a Secret Santa exchange, games, and a small prizegiving to acknowledge and celebrate all their incredible mahi throughout the year.

It was a joyful way to reflect on their accomplishments and share gratitude for their hard work and dedication. Here's to an even brighter year ahead!

Well e te whānau that is us for this month! Don’t forget that we also have a monthly piece in the Tihei Kahungunu and Hawkes Bay Today. Follow the link to stay updated, otherwise…

Catch yous next month - DOITZ!

Proudly made in Kahungunu, our specialty Kawakawa balms not only offer natural care but also support our community. All proceeds from your purchase goes directly towards MokoBoys, a community initiative run by Toi Matarua that employs local youth in the Hawkes Bay region to provide free home care services to our elderly. Driven by community needs and entirely self-funded, the employment of these rangatahi is made possible by the sales of our Kawakawa balms through our social enterprise arm - ‘Māku’.