Inspiring Rangatahi to Believe in Their Potential
Article
Ngāti Porou Oranga's Kā te Rama initiative, Horouta Whānau Ora, Kouma Samson, and the Loose Change Charitable Trust came together at Te Karaka Area School to deliver a day of inspiration, movement, learning, and growth for local rangatahi.
The Rangatahi Hauora Wānanga was designed to empower young people with practical knowledge and tools to strengthen their overall wellbeing. Through interactive activities, engaging discussions, and powerful guest speaker presentations, the wānanga focused on nutrition, physical activity, healthy habits, goal setting, and developing a positive vision for the future.
The collaborative kaupapa aimed to inspire rangatahi to believe in their potential, challenge self-limiting beliefs, and make positive choices that support their long-term health, wellbeing, and success.
One of the highlights of the day was hearing from former NRL player Russell Packer, who openly shared his personal journey, including the challenges he faced throughout his life and career. His honest and authentic kōrero resonated deeply with the rangatahi, creating meaningful conversations around resilience, accountability, and personal growth. Rather than presenting a picture of perfection, Russell spoke candidly about overcoming adversity,reminding participants that setbacks do not define who they are or what they can achieve.
Throughout the wānanga, rangatahi enthusiastically participated in activities centred on healthy living, self-reflection, and goal setting.
Following Russell's kōrero, facilitators noticed a significant shift in confidence as participants openly shared their aspirations and discussed practical steps they could take to achieve them.
By the end of the day, many rangatahi demonstrated increased confidence in their ability to set meaningful goals, overcome obstacles, and work towards a positive future.
One of the most significant outcomes was seeing participants begin to challenge their own self-limiting beliefs. The message that their current circumstances do not determine their future became one of the day's most powerful takeaways.
One particularly moving moment came when a participant quietly shared with a facilitator that Russell's childhood experiences closely reflected her own. Hearing how he had over come adversity and gone on to achieve success gave her a renewed sense of hope, reassurance, and belief that positive change was possible in her own life.
Many participants also reflected that hearing a genuine, real-life story from someone who had over come significant challenges made the experience both relatable and inspiring.Russell's authenticity created an environment where rangatahi felt comfortable engaging in honest conversations about their own goals, challenges, and aspirations.
The Wānanga demonstrated the power of collaboration and the importance of investing in opportunities thatempower young people to believe in themselves and their futures.
As Kouma Samson, shared:
“The biggest thing for me is seeing our rangatahi leave a wānanga with a fire lit inside them. The change inself-confidence can be incredible, and witnessing that growth is one of the most rewarding parts of this mahi.The key to these wānanga is having the resources to create an experience that is truly memorable. For our whānau here in Tairāwhiti, especially those in our rural communities, having role models fly here just to spend time with them, tailoring our mahi to each rōpū, and providing practical resources all sends a powerful message. It shows our rangatahi that there are people who genuinely care about them, believe in their potential, and see them as worth investing in”
By bringing together trusted community organisations, inspiring role models, and practical learning experiences, the Rangatahi Hauora Wānanga continues to create lasting impacts for young people across Tairāwhiti—equipping them with the confidence, knowledge, and belief that they can shape positive futures for themselves, their whānau, and their communities.
