Whakatāne Hui 2020
“Of all the Festivals it was my favourite one! Especially after the isolation of Covid-19.”
From Wednesday 13 July to Saturday 18 July, the Whakatāne Future Leaders hosted a Future Leaders Hui at Tauanui Marae, Waimana, in the Whakatāne District. The purpose of the Hui was to bring Future Leaders, Catalysts, and Coaches together to connect as a 2020 national crew for the first time. It was not only a chance for whakawhanaungatanga for the Aotearoa Future Leaders, but the rōpū also took part in the #FFTFLive Virtual Summit. Participants for the summit developed personal actions to take following the event to develop themselves and/or their community.
Future Leaders 2020 Whānau
From Wednesday 15 July to Saturday the 18 July fifty Future Leaders got together and really built connections across Aotearoa. We talked about our experiences over lockdown, and what all six groups achieved over that time.
“I think it was an amazing experience overall. I loved how everyone bonded and how supportive everyone was of each other. I don't think I'd change anything to be honest.”
Ringawera at work in Tauanui Marae.
Queenie (Whakatāne), Chanel (Kaikohe), and Jazaire (Kaikohe) helping out in the kitchen on the first day of the Hui.
Each of the six groups was rostered on to help out in the wharekai (kitchen). Everyone helped out where they could. However, we definitely had some amazing wharekai stars! Big thanks to Sy Kaaka from Kaikohe, Joe Rangi our Far North bus driver from Kaitaia, and of course the Talei Bryant and Petra Gray from Whakatāne for planning the meals and leading the cooking over the week.
Sports at Whakatāne High School. Everyone lining up to start playing some team sports from across all six rohe.
On Thursday morning, the sun was unfortunately not shining in Whakatāne. The Whakatāne crew organised, incredibly fast, an amazing morning of sports at the Whakatāne High School. This was in place of a rainy beach walk in Ohope. Everyone got into cross community groups and got a chance to bond across sports and being silly.
Sports at Whakatāne High School.
Yumiko (Whangarei), Lara (Whangarei), Queenie (Whakatāne), and Elicia (Greymouth) playing some sports on day two.
Festival for the Future Digital Summit Session. Taking part in #FFTFLive at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
On Thursday and Friday afternoon we all took part in the #FFTFLive Virtual Summit at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne. This was the first ever digital Festival for the Future Summit and the first ever Future Leader event like this in Whakatāne – the crew got a lot out of this experience.
“One of the key points that I took from the workshop were to keep getting people engaged with your movement or event. Give them a reason to be interested in it, especially if it’s all for a good cause”
“I liked the different people's perspectives on certain issues, it kind of broadened my own views. I gained more knowledge about systematic racism, how NZ has its very own space company and how we can help implement a low carbon future.”
Eastern Bay of Plenty Future Leaders at Motion Entertainment in Rotorua.
Marlena, Mereana, Chelsea, Rakeraterataka, Trae from the Kawerau crew, and Kataraina from Whakatāne, and Manuka from Ōpōtiki in the background.
During the day on Friday the whole crew went to Motion Entertainment in Rotorua. We all got into cross community teams and jumped on trampolines together, played some tenpin bowling, and competed in laser strike. This was our chance to celebrate the fundraising we had all done to get to the Bay of Plenty. We followed this session with our final Festival for the Future session in Whakatāne – where everyone wrote down a positive action that they would take for themselves and/or their community when they got back home.
“If you are not at the table you are on the menu. Essentially you have to be a part of conversations that affect you.”
Kaikohe Crew at Motion Entertainment in Rotorua. Hayden, Tanisha, Karen, Chanel, and Jazaire.
Motion Entertainment Rotorua. Luke (Whakatāne), Sy (Kaikohe) and Kaea (Ōpōtiki).
Whangarei ready for the final nights celebration.
On our final night, we celebrated as a whole crew. The Whakatāne Future Leaders decorated the wharekai, we sung together, and we thanked all the people who made this event happen.
“Thank you so much! This trip was a great experience which couldn’t have happened without your help.”
A huge thanks to the Whakatāne team for hosting, the coaches for all their team coordination, support and guidance, Mercedes Clay for taking all the ataahua photos over the weekend, and the Future Leaders for all the community engagement and fundraising you did.
Thank you from all our Coaches – (back row) Tania Bristow (Whangarei), Karen Hepi (Kaikohe), Talei Bryant (Whakatāne), and Marlena Martin (Kawerau). (Front Row) Stephen Brassett (Greymouth). As well as our Ōpōtiki coaches Nakita Ferguson and more recently Kaea Williams.