The Corner Creative Space volunteer Jordan-Caisley Pihema has been selected as Papakura Local Board’s Tuia representative in 2023.
A Manurewa Youth Council member, she says Tuia means to weave, and when people are woven together, their contribution can have a greater impact on the community.
Mentor and Papakura Local Board member Andrew Webster says Jordan has got off to an incredible start, contacting more than 50 local rangatahi to understand their perspectives and aspirations.
“She will be an incredible asset to us and I am looking forward to working with her.”
The first rangatahi selected to represent one of the city’s five southern local boards on the Tuia mentoring programme was Suzie Rika, in Manurewa.
Franklin, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and Ōtara-Papatoetoe are all also offering rangatahi places in the programme, which allows local government representatives from across the country to understand the perspectives rangatahi bring to issues, while allowing them to gain leadership skills and create nationwide networks.
Candidates must be between 18 and 25, have strong ties to the relevant area, be contributing to the well-being of their communities, and have the support of their iwi, hapū, marae, whānau or community-based group.
Jordan’s goal is to be a voice for rangatahi in Papakura. “I want to be able to lift awareness and advocacy in Papakura, and to bring education and understanding of how local government impacts the lives of our rangatahi.
“I have engaged with rangatahi all over south auckland to hear what the key themes and challenges they face today are. Key themes came out of that, most rangatahi didn’t feel heard in local decision-making, and they didn’t feel as though they were connected within the community.”
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