Aakonga from Te Wharekura o Rākaumanga in Raahui Pookeka/ Huntly recently spent the day at Ngaaruawaahia council office learning how local government works and the many careers that help communities thrive.
From roading and parks to communications and animal control, kaimahi shared their knowledge and experiences across a range of fields. The students were attentive and engaged, asking thoughtful questions and showing strong leadership qualities throughout the visit.
‘Ko te whai maaramatanga ki ngaa momo nekehanga me ngaa momo whakaritenga o i a tuuranga o te waahi nei, me oona piki me ngaa heke. Ahakoa i aahua roa te waananga tahi me te koorero tahi, i whai maaramatanga pai au ki ngaa kaupapa kei mua i te aroaro.’
The experience of hearing firsthand from staff about their roles and responsibilities gave us a good perspective about the realities of their jobs. There was a lot to get through, but we gained some good understanding from the koorero that was shared.
Chief Executive Craig Hobbs asked the group whether they had drunk some water or been to the toilet that morning. When hands went up, he explained that they’d already used vital council services to do so. He encouraged the students to consider a future in local government, where every role contributes to improving and serving communities.
It was a pleasure to be able to invite our rangatahi into Council, to begin building relationships and growing our collective understanding of the role of local government with our future leaders and members of community. Encouraging youth to connect with local government is an ongoing focus, with plans to offer more opportunities like this for schools, kura and young people across the district.
It was a day of inspiration and connection, nurturing curiosity and understanding among the leaders of tomorrow, and Council’s commitment to living, thriving and connected communities.
