Using three years of Tairāwhiti Wellbeing Survey (TWS) data, 20 senior maths students from Lytton High School took part in the first-ever ‘Data Hack’ event hosted by Trust Tairāwhiti.
The event was facilitated by the Trust’s data and information lead, Malcolm Mersham, with support from local data experts Debs Hancock, Peter Hancock and Damian Redpath. Together, they helped students unlock stories within the data and turn their findings into informed insights.
Working in groups, the students explored common trends and themes from the TWS data before presenting their findings to Trust staff using graphs, posters and PowerPoint presentations.
Their insights included the need to grow Te Reo Māori across the region, a strong link between youth unemployment and lower life satisfaction, concerns about loneliness and a call for more spaces where young people aged 15 to 24 can come together and socialise.
“Rangatahi turned data into ideas, solutions and hope for our region. That’s the power of putting community at the heart of data,” says Malcolm.
A follow-up session will allow students to use the insights they’ve discovered to shape some of the Trust's ongoing local projects, including the City Centre Revitalisation project.