Tuia 2024

Applications for Tuia 2024 are open from 9 November - 15 December

Tuia is an intergenerational approach to develop and enhance the way in which rangatahi (youth) Māori contribute to communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the programme, we look to build a network for rangatahi to help support their contribution to their communities. This is done through developing relationships between a diverse range of youth throughout the country that recognises, accepts and celebrates diversity.

Three pou make up the Tuia rangatahi experience:

Mentoring
Community contribution
Wānanga (education)

At a local level, the Mayor will select a rangatahi Māori from the district who they will develop a mentoring relationship with, enhancing their ability to make impactful contributions to the community.

The word 'tuia' means to weave and when people are woven together, their collective contribution has a greater impact on communities. The Tuia kaupapa (project) seeks to embody this by connecting young Māori from across Aotearoa with one another.

Find out more about the Tuia programme (PDF 2.5MB)

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for rangatahi Māori (aged 18 to 25 years) who reside within the Rotorua rohe (district) and, at some level, are actively contributing to the wellbeing of their community, or have an aspiration to do so.

The successful applicant will need to be able to commit to:

Attending five weekend wānanga held on marae around the country - three, three-day and two, four-day wānanga over a period of 12 months.
Monthly ‘one on one’ mentoring meetings with the Rotorua Lakes Council Mayor, Tania Tapsell, and other event and networking opportunities.
Being open minded and willing to contribute to discussions and workshops.

Application process

There's two ways you can apply:

Option 1 - video application

Create a two-minute (or less) video telling us:

Your name and a little bit about yourself, along with a brief outline about why you should be selected for the Tuia kaupapa

Send your video through to Rotorua Lakes Council Facebook Messenger or email it to felicity.jansonius-bidois@rotorualc.nz along with your contact details and the contact details of the community which is supporting your application (such as your iwi, hapū, marae, or a community organisation) - send by 5pm Friday 15 December 2024.