“I’m not what you think I am” – telling our story in Murihiku

29 January 2022

Rangatahi Tumeke Tuākana development group

On Saturday 27 January, Hana O’Regan led a wānanga at the Te Ao Marama office in Bluff with our emerging youth leaders from the Rangatahi Tumeke Programme. This wānanga was a part of the development of our rangatahi and their shared understanding of the story of Māori in Murihiku.

The Tuākana will develop a workshop for other rangatahi (and the community in general), to raise the awareness of critical issues affecting Māori rakatahi in the region and how they have come to be, before supporting them to author their own narrative which more accurately reflects who they are and how they want to be seen and respected.

Rangatahi on screen: Jacob Taare (top); Angelia Skerrett (middle); Nola Cassidy (bottom). Main photo (front): Rangatahi Mya Kairau and Destiny Naunau. Back row (left to right): Steph Blair, Hana O’Regan, Dr Michael Stevens, Ivan Hodgetts and Michael Skerrett.

The title for the new presentation is “I’m not what you think I am”. This came from one of the rakatahi at an earlier wānaka, when asked the question, “what do we want your teachers to know ?” This powerful statement set the scene for our rakatahi to start building their own positive story about being Māori in Murihiku using historical and current exemplars as a way of counteracting the negative stereotypes and perceptions that many experience on a regular basis.

Ngāi Tahu historian Dr Michael Stevens was able to provide a rich context and historical and contemporary information about the contribution of Māori across the region. The day was also supported by Upoko Michael Skerrett and Ivan Hodgetts, who are responsible for the the Te Ara Aukati Kore education programme within Murihiku Regeneration.

We all see a great future for the Rangatahi Tumeke Programme and want to acknowledge the great work Steph Blair continues to do in developing and leading this programme.

Posted: 31 January 2022