Building brighter futures for Murihiku Rangatahi
Building brighter futures for rangatahi in Murihiku is at the heart of a recently signed partnership agreement between the Te Rourou Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation and Hokonui Rūnanga Incorporated. The agreement will see the establishment of a hapū-led iwi-backed employment and training initiative to be developed and housed within Murihiku Regeneration.
Hokonui Rūnanga Incorporated Chair, Terry Nicholas says, “Murihiku Regeneration is excited to have Te Rourou Aotearoa Vodafone Foundation as a partner in this future focused initiative. The Vodafone Foundation is providing us with the support to develop a rangatahi focused skills hub. This initiative sits well with our Te Ara Aukati Kore (TAAK) – Pathways without Barriers initiative designed to ensure all local people can build the capability needed for emergent labour market and broader social and cultural life opportunities in the region.”
The Vodafone Foundation has made a six year commitment to Murihiku to fund initiatives that see young people thriving in their communities. Included in this is a focus on supporting Māori aspirations.
“Murihiku rangatahi are living within a unique local context – a place with its own histories, and complexities. We believe that the best solutions to these young people’s challenges will come from the local community. We’re here to enable and accelerate local solutions through long-term layers of support,” says Lani Evans, Head of Foundation, Te Rourou Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation.
“We have spent the last 12 months conducting research and building relationships among the community. We are thrilled to be working alongside Hokonui Rūnanga and Murihiku Regeneration, whose vision and values are so closely aligned with those of the Foundation.”
The Vodafone Foundation’s support has enabled the employment of local rangatahi Mapihi Kahurangi-Davis, as Kaiarahi Hōtaka-Programme Development Officer. Her role will be to develop the focus on rangatahi, and ensure that they have the support needed to grow. The next step will be to find a physical space and to align the hub to current Murihiku Regeneration initiatives and related work, including:
Developing pathway planning for rangatahi as they move from school to employment.
Ensuring strong local partnerships with hydrogen and other business investors to prepare a future workforce for a green energy and decarbonised economy.
Developing a Worker Transitions programme under the Government’s, Southland Just Transitions programme response to the announced closure of the Tīwai Smelter.
The aim is for the rangatahi hub to be fully operational by early 2023. The focus will then shift to building the scale necessary to meet the needs of whānau and ensure they are empowered to live their best lives.
Ivan Hodgetts, Programme Lead, Murihiku Regeneration says, “We are very grateful to Te Rourou Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation for their
Ivan Hodgetts - Te Ara Aukati Kore Programme Lead - speaking about the programme at the Science and Innovation Wānanga held in November last year. long-term commitment to creating a positive future for Murihiku rangatahi and for the funding they are providing to make this happen. We also appreciate the ongoing support and input of Tokana te Raki - Māori Futures Collective.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be on board the waka to build the world we want for our rangatahi and the future generations who come after them. We look forward to working collaboratively with our local Papatipu Rūnanga and our wider Murihiku whānau and community to make the dream a reality.”
Posted: 28 June 2022