Tapuwae Roa facilitated Hogan (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tamatea) the freedom and opportunity to deliver the Ngaruru mentoring program. Ngaruru is a rangatahi-led program, developing them to be the future rangatira and kaitiaki of their communities and to realise the mana and potential they hold. Thanks to the Trust’s funding, Ngauru was able to be delivered to five primary and secondary kura across Central Hawke’s Bay. 

“Our rangatahi have created a space they can call their own, a space they can be confident for who they are as an individual but also as a Māori. We believe we have achieved what we have wanted to achieve in the in-school and after-school space, but the challenge has been trying to get traction in the wānanga space,” Hogan says.

“A success story that comes to mind is one of the rangatahi who were participating in Ngaruru expressed to her mentor how much she loved sports and had a deep passion for it, however her self-confidence was holding her back. Over time of working with her mentor we were able to break down those barriers and provide her with opportunities to grow her passion. Attending trials for Basketball and Rugby Representitive teams, meeting people who have gone down the sports paths and learning from their experiences. With the help of her whānau, kura, friends and Ngaruru she grew confidence in herself and has now traveled the country playing basketball, Kī-o-Rahi and Rugby League,” he says.