Kokiri 20 - Te Puni Kokiri

RANGATAHIHon Dr Pita Sharples with Wairoa College studentsCall for MäoriYouth Council“I want to heardirectly from youngpeople what theythink about how theGovernment’s policiesand programmes workfor them…"Rangatahi Mäori have beennominated to a national MäoriYouth Council, to advise theMinister of Mäori Affairs onissues affecting young people.“The Mäori population isyounger than the nationalaverage, so rangatahi are animportant part of our societyand we need them to playa full part in planning ourfuture,” he said.“I want to hear directly fromyoung people what they thinkabout how the Government’spolicies and programmeswork for them; and I hopethe experience of workingwith the Mäori Youth Councilwill further develop theirleadership skills.Dr Sharples said he wanted12-15 representatives fromacross the country and arange of iwi, who are active intheir communities, interestedin Mäori affairs and havestrong leadership skills.It is intended that the Councilmeet every couple of monthsto give the Minister and TePuni Kökiri practical adviceand feedback on issuesaffecting rangatahi Mäori.Look out in the next Kökiri forthe Minister's announcementof the rangatahi appointmentto the Mäori Youth Council.42TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | MAHURU – WHIRINGA Ä NUKU 2010