Up to? Update from Te Taiwhanga Rangatahi
It’s been a busy month for the TTR team! They’ve seen the circular economy in action with Critical, facilitated hui with new designers at The Nest, evaluated the Young King’s programme at Brown Pride, helped host wānanga and finally, led an experiential session for local and international participants Participatory Design Conference Places- Tāmaki Makaurau.
TTR visited Critical’s factory in Papatoetoe. Critical (an Amotai member) is a circular design brand that transforms Aotearoa’s plastic waste. Entrepreneur Rui Peng took the rangatahi and TTR’s friend from Sustainable Business Network, Piete Tinder, around the factory for a tour, sharing his wisdom on disruptive innovation, visionary entrepreneurship and the importance of indigenous leadership in the circular economy.
“The visit to CRITICAL was new but also a pleasure to be there because they practice sustainability which is a key to a better future. I love their panels, I think they’re creative. I also love that they use crazy materials and turned those in to beautiful artwork.”
-Jen, Junior Designer
Later in the month, TTR’s first cohort of rangatahi designers welcomed a new group of rangatahi to start a design experience at The Nest, thanks to the Education Partnership and Innovation Partnership in Onehunga. Our rangatahi designers ran the day with a focus on whakawhanaungatanga and connection. All the participants laughed a lot while getting to know each other.
TTR, together the Youth Economy team, held an evaluation session for Brown Pride on their Young Kings Programme. Young Kings is a 12-week employment and entrepreneurial programme focusing on young Pasifika and Māori men, helping them set up their own enterprises, connect them to good employment and provide peer support. During this session, TTR had the opportunity to practice their facilitation skills with another south Auckland rangatahi kaupapa. It was a great session of learning from each other, and it helped Brown Pride see what they were able to achieve and help them take the next step on that Young Kings journey.
Again alongside the Youth Economy team, TTR hosted a wānanga for Tokona Te Raki from Te Waipounamu, Whole-9, Zeal, and Rānui 135 at Click Studios in Avondale so rangatahi could share their mahi as indigenous change-makers. This is the start of more networking between indigenous rangatahi-led kaupapa involved in participatory design and developmental evaluation across the motu.
I was inspired opportunity to share in mindsets and methodology to improve everybody’s approach to empower rangatahi future-makers. I can see the potential of us implementing Te Korekoreka by Tokona Te Raki in the way we support our rangatahi. Mai i te kore ko te pō, mai i te pō ko te ao mārama, ko te ao tūroa.
-Rereahu, Design & Innovation specialist, mātauranga Māori
As part of the Participatory Design Conference Places – Tāmaki Makaurau, Taiwhanga Rangatahi led an experiential session for local and international participants. The session was held at Takaanini Paataka Koorero, and paid respect to how the relationships between Mana Whenua and Auckland Council made it possible. Participants commented on how the rangatahi were able to hold their own wellbeing at the centre of their design practice, and how important that ability is to how we design. Take a video tour of Takaanini Paataka Koorero!
