He Aratūtahi | A pathway on which we can all stand

The National Māori Authority and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award have joined forces in a new partnership to advocate and develop pathways for young New Zealanders that are inclusive of Te Ao Māori and Tikanga Māori. The Award in Aotearoa asked rangatahi what their priorities are, and “what they really cared about” and they responded. They want to be able to get a job, save the planet, and importantly they expressed their desire to understand their identity, and to discover their place in Aotearoa today.

On Friday 27^th August The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award and The National Māori Authority joined forces in a new partnership to advocate and develop pathways for young New Zealanders that are inclusive of Te Ao Māori and Tikanga Māori. The kaupapa Māori forms the framework for He Aratūtahi, a pathway we can all stand together. This will continue our work as one of the primary youth development programmes in Aotearoa enabling our rangatahi to discover, explore and define their own identity and their place in our country.

This pathway is not only for rangatahi Māori but all young New Zealanders to explore their place in our country and, for the Award to forge this pathway as a way of working for the future. We feel this partnership is a taonga that will enrich the Award and all it achieves for rangatahi and this country for years to come.

Karen Ross, National Director of the Award has said this is an occasion to celebrate:

“We have done an enormous amount of work over the course of the last few years and trying to ensure we encompass Te Reo Māori and Tikanga into our narratives and our resources. We now have a building approach towards tikanga Māori and are encouraged by our ongoing commitment to better understand and evolve the role of Te Tiriti into our everyday mahi. He Aratūtahi is the example of that, and I am extremely encouraged that this is an experience whereby all the rangatahi and young people who participate will come away with a much deeper understanding of our shared identity. Of course, we would also love to see more Rangatahi Māori join the programme, and other rangatahi explore the richness this pathway offers for them” Ross said.

“We have grown as a nation over the last several centuries and this new journey is about empowerment and enablement – but it also tells us that our rangatahi and young people are not just keen to explore their identity and the cultural significance of Te Ao Māori but what it means not just at home but as our young people explore the world. Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Māori and Māori culture are so important because it also makes us unique in the world. For the National Māori Authority that enablement and empowerment is so critical – that’s why we are leaning in to support the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award and are encouraging all organisations to follow the same model they have developed” said Chair of the National Māori Authority, Matthew Tukaki.

Here at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award our participants set their own challenge. With guidance from the Award Leaders, each young person is encouraged to examine themselves – their interests, their ambitions, and set challenges for our four Award sections: Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skills, and Adventurous Journey (along with Gold Residential-at Gold level only).

The Award has always sought to give our rangatahi the tools, resources, connections, and support to make a difference in the world’s challenges. We will encourage our participants now and future to observe, engage, help, advocate and have courage to embrace our country’s rich culture, and discover themselves.