Tuia
Tuia is a nationwide rangatahi Māori kaupapa. It works to meaningfully transfer intergenerational wisdom and leadership skills between mayors, CEOs, and other community leaders and their selected young Māori mentees.
At BGI, we benefit from an enriching relationship with Tuia. Ross Davis, our director, has had the privilege of being personally involved with the Tuia kaupapa since 2019. It was during this first year that he and our very own Kahukura Ritchie mentored each other!
Over the years, Ross has witnessed Tuia mentorships, along with wider community events and projects, enhance the mana of young Māori. Kura Wānanga is one such project.
Kahukura leads Kura Wānanga at his old school, Wellington High School. Together, they pass on Tuia learnings to young Māori like them. After attending, one wāhine said it was the first time she felt proud to be Māori.
Ross attributes much of BGI's connection to te ao Māori and growth as Tangata Tiriti to our relationship with Tuia. Fundamentally, Tuia and BGI share the belief that people in positions of power must work to understand what tino rangatiratanga means for young Māori and for Aotearoa.
'Tuia' means 'to weave'. Embodying this, the programme enables youth and leaders to learn from each other, kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), weaving together communities and creating positive, long-lasting change.
If you’re a driven young Māori between the ages of 18 and 25, you’re eligible to get involved!
To learn more, head to https://www.mtfj.co.nz/our-work/tuia-and-mtfj-rangatahi/