Kawatiri’s TUIA candidate announced

Buller District Council Mayor Jamie Cleine has announced Kawatiri’s Tuia programme candidate. The Tuia programme invites Mayor’s across the country to select a rangatahi candidate to participate and take a mutually beneficial journey.

Maddox Manawatu was born in Taumarunui in the North Island and will start his Tuia journey at a wananga in Tuia i Runga (Waikato) early next month.

Tuia youth leadership programme brings together young Māori, 18 – 25 years old, from across Aotearoa/New Zealand - connecting passions, aspirations, and dreams of rangatahi to serve our communities well.

The youth leadership programme seeks to weave people together well so that their collective contribution has a greater positive impact on communities.

Maddox Manawatu, lives in Westport and is working at Buller High School as a Kaiāwhina.

Mayor Cleine says: “I was impressed by his enthusiasm to take part in the program. It will be a great learning and development opportunity and I look forward to being part of his journey over the coming months.”

The programme applies an intergenerational approach to develop and enhance the way in which rangatahi Māori contribute to communities.

“We have been taking part for three years now and I see it as an opportunity to grow and support leadership of rangatahi in our district and as a way to strengthen the cultural focus in Kawatiri.”

During his Tuia journey, Maddox will do 100-hours of community service and attend five wananga with other Tuia participants – to build networks, obtain support, and exposure to diversity.

Maddox says: “I am very excited about the Tuia program. It is an opportunity to connect with people from around New Zealand, grow and bring what I will learn back home.

I look forward to sharing my experience as part of my role at Buller High School and coaching the under 15 Buller High School boys rugby team and the Kawatiri combined under 15 boys rugby team.”

“We have a lot of young Māori boys in the rugby team and it will be great to support them through what I bring back from the wananga.”

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:
Mayor Jamie Cleine
[email protected]

Background information

The Tuia Programe is an initiative under the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ), which is a nationwide network of New Zealand’s Mayors, working together towards the vision of all young people 16-25 engaged in employment, education, training, or other positive activity in their communities.

Buller District Council is participating for the third year in the program.