Youth & Cultural Development

Empower to Lead – Taiohi Leadership Programme is a kaupapa Māori, youth-centred initiative designed to nurture confident, culturally grounded, and compassionate young leaders in low-decile kura.

Youth & Cultural Development’s moemoeā…

Our moemoea is to create safe, inclusive spaces where tamariki and taiohi can grow as leaders, strengthen cultural identity, and positively contribute to their kura and communities.

Delivered in 15-week cycles, the programme provides weekly 2-hour sessions tailored to age groups: fun, team-based leadership foundations for primary seniors (Years 5–6); skill-building in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving for intermediates (Years 7–8); and applied leadership through mentoring, projects, and kura/community initiatives for junior high students (Years 9–10).

Key components include:

• Connection & Whanaungatanga: tuakana–teina mentoring, team challenges, cultural grounding, and youth-led events.
• Needs-Responsive Design: ongoing kōrero with taiohi, whānau, and kura staff.
• Tailored Delivery: trauma-informed, culturally grounded, inclusive, and youth-led, with strong whānau involvement.
• Skill Development: leadership, resilience, hauora, digital and financial literacy, CV building, and community engagement.
• Collaboration: iwi, kaumātua, health providers, industry partners, kura, whānau, and community groups

By completion, taiohi will have stronger leadership foundations, resilience, cultural pride, practical life skills, and experience leading projects.
The programme anticipates reaching 2000 taiohi annually, with ripple effects across kura, whānau, and community: stronger engagement, improved wellbeing, visible youth leadership, and deeper whanaungatanga.

Te Whare O Whanaketanga equips taiohi to stand tall in their identity, lead with compassion, and contribute meaningfully to their kura and community.