Tokona Te Raki

As we head towards 2040, and marking 200 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, we have the opportunity to realise the promise of a true Treaty partnership by advancing a shared vision to build a better future. Māori descend from the greatest navigators in the world who crossed the Pacific Ocean using only sun, star, wind and wave – it’s in our DNA – we need to relearn the ability to imagine a world beyond the horizon. We know we can’t do this alone which is why we are building partnerships with government, industry, communities and most importantly whānau who share a collective vision for a better world. Together we can challenge the current inequities, and co-design innovative futuristic solutions. We all have a role to play and we will all benefit from getting it right for our rangatahi. Rangatahi Māori represent the fastest growing sector of New Zealand’s population and as such will be the drivers of the future. We need to equip them with the tools to be inspired by their future, succeeding as Māori, confident in their culture and prosperous in their careers. As the statistics tell us, the journey through education into employment is not equitable. For the benefit of all, it’s time we address the failings of the current system and re design it to ensure that it meets rangatahi where they are and inspires, connects and prepares them for where they want to go.