Nau mai ki te Ōpōtiki Rangatahi Pā
Kia ora koutou!!
Welcome to our youth centre, vision, dreamspace and big idea planning space.
Right now we're a youth movement, growing every week (dependent on the rain!) and waiting for everyone to know about our new venue.
I seriously think we need to invest in some homing pigeons 🤣 But the word is spreading and our epic roopu continues to come, learn, grow and develop together collectively.
My name is Whaea Alex and I've had this big dream for a long time now. To create a youth centre in a small town, that really really really needs some kotahitanga (unity) and aroha (love).
I've been wanting to do this for over 15 years. I've been planning, dreaming, manifesting this idea for so long that I know it will happen. Just like I know the sun will rise again tomorrow.
I believe that all rangatahi deserve a safe space to grow, to be nurtured and to find companionship across the different kura in town.
With a whole range of different volunteers, support crew and rangatahi hungry for activities - we're having an incredible time.
At the moment, we're becoming more comfortable in our new venue at the Māori Presbyterian Church.
Pros:
Huge venue inside
It has storage for us to store all (some!) of our things!
It has a stage!
It has an epic backyard!
With a feijoa tree that is an awesome hangout 💜
They want us to make a community garden 💜
It's right beside the fire station, the police station and the St John's hall and across from Wakelins and beside Te Ao Hou Trust and the Honey Shop.
Cons:
It's right beside the fire station. The sirens are loud!
It needs a lot of work - but we'll find funding and help to support the church as they're offering us a venue at a very low cost.
There is no fence at the front (yet)
It's right beside the main road - a bit dangerous for our littles — more supervision is required
With all this in mind - we think that it's an epic space for us to grow into, to expand into slowly and really make our team gel.
We are at the Māori Presbyterian church every Wednesday from 4-6pm. One day we will have a big, beautiful, multi-purpose space. For now, we're incredibly thankful to Whaea Moana and her team. 💜