Nōna Te Ao was created to address the trend of rural rangatahi Māori leaving school early without essential skills and qualifications.
Since starting five years ago in Tolaga Bay, Nōna Te Ao has extended its reach from Pōtaka through Te Karaka and Manutuke and, more recently, to several schools in the Bay of Plenty. This effort has improved secondary school retention rates and encouraged enthusiasm among rural rangatahi about their future pathways.
Trust Tairāwhiti approved a $100k grant to support the E Tipu E Rea and Loose Change programmes, aiming to nurture ngā rangatira mō āpōpō (future leaders) and address educational disparities among rural secondary school students.
“The core part of our kaupapa was that we knew we needed to grow the region's economic status by creating highly skilled workers.
“The programmes are curated to, by and for our rangatahi. Our programme facilitators all have a whakapapa link to home, which helps because it connects them,” says Nōna Te Ao Chief Executive, Sammy Hughes.
A one-week wānanga is held outside the region to broaden rangatahi perspectives as part of E Tipu E Rea. By immersing participants in a new environment, the programme fosters openness to change. Participants engage with whānau from Tairāwhiti who are pursuing diverse careers and pathways.
Each wānanga aims to open up career options at home, closing the workforce development gap within our region.
Nōna Te Ao also runs rangatahi wānanga with community partners in areas like gang prevention and mental health, collaborating with partners, 180 Turn and the Last Chance Project. The programme also offers exposure to Toi Māori and tech pathways through Toihoukura and Tōnui.
The Nōna Te Ao Alumni Ahi Kaa programme ensures that students are supported after secondary school through regular check-ins with Nōna Te Ao kaimahi.
“Our alumni come back and their minds have expanded, their options have grown through being part of this kaupapa and through that, they give back to their rēanga (generation) so they can go on the same journey as them.”
Around 100 secondary school students benefit from the Loose Change programme run by Kouma Samson. The programme promotes self-discipline, structure and positive habits through rugby league, sports and fitness to enhance physical and mental well-being.
“Consistency is what makes the Loose Change programme work. One of the biggest issues in our rural kura is that there’s no consistency. The Loose Change kaupapa was about promoting mental health and wellbeing through a medium that our rangatahi can relate to, which is sport. Nōna Te Ao needed something that would be a consistent programme every week.”
Sammy noted significant growth in rangatahi leadership, particularly among tāne, due to the influence of a strong male leader running the Loose Change kaupapa, prompting a focus on expanding the leadership programme for wāhine.
“Seeing the growth in rangatahi confidence, mindset and positivity towards their futures is the most rewarding part of working on these programmes,” says Nōna Te Ao Chief Finance Officer Jessica Wood-Waikari.
“We’re really grateful to Trust Tairāwhiti for funding the programme and having it continue in the region for our whānau in those hard-to-reach places. It’s having a positive impact and that will only grow,” Sammy says.