Ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā!

Nau mai hoki mai ki Pakaru Pānui! If you’re new here, this is our monthly rangatahi news article where we promote important things happening in our community, our voices on kaupapa that affect us and opportunities up for grabs.

This month, we’ve been getting back into the swing of things. We started the year with a few cool kaupapa such as the annual Ōtaki Summer Camp and expert guitar lessons.

So grab a kaputī, get comfortable, and join us as we take on the New Year!

Mauri ora,
The Pakaru Pānui Team

This January, a group of us rangatahi went alongside Āwhina Whānau Services to the annual Ōtaki Summer Camp held at the Leason whānau whare. We spent 4 days listening to significant kaikōrero, such as activists, ex-politicians and people leading the way in Kaupapa Māori spaces. After each speaker, our rōpū led waiata tautoko to show our appreciation. We were also very lucky to have a private tour of Te Wānanga o Raukawa where we got a taste of what it would be like to study there. We then got to visit the Hori Gallery and Māoriland. To cool down after the long, hot day sessions, we spent some time at the river. On the final night, we attended a barn dance, we left our whakamā at the door and had a fun time dancing.

This trip came at the perfect time for us. It was a fun and engaging way to start the year while also shaping our own evidence-based opinions on what is happening around us in parliament and the media. If this sounds like something you would be keen on attending next year, contact us or keep updated on the Ōtaki Summer Camp website: https://otakisummercamp.com

“A lot of things I experienced at Ōtaki Summer Camp were firsts for me. I learnt a lot about what's going on in the world, how it affects me and got to connect with te taiao. The swimming spot was mean!”

-Hikurangi, Rangatahi Attendee

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Guitar Lessons

We were fortunate to have Zac from Kahu Scaffolding come to our space and teach a group of our rangatahi how to play the guitar! No one had any experience playing before but by the end of the two-day wānanga, they showcased around six songs to a small audience. Playing the guitar is an important skill for when we have events, productions or waiata tautoko so ngā mihi nui ki a koe, Zac!

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Whakataukī of the Month

Well e te whānau that is us for Hānuere! 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’.