The voices of our rangatahi

 

1

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“Since media is a huge part of today’s communication, I’d say social media or online connections can certainly help me identify my marae.”

2

 

“Using websites and such to post hītori and pūrākau about your marae/iwi are a great way to stay in touch with your iwi.”

3

 

“Having access to information at your fingertips will help immensely with maintaining the knowledge and understanding of my iwi. This is especially important as our elders are no longer around.”

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4

 

“Learning stories and hītori of my marae would make me feel closer without physically being there but if I were to go it would feel more connected to my taha Māori through events like koroneihana or poukai or whakawhānaungatanga through camps with cousins.”

 

5

 

“I feel spiritually lost, and long to be proud and feel involved in the Māori community.”

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6

 

 “Most of the people I know and myself as well don’t feel “Māori” enough to participate in cultural activities and I feel we need to break this feeling as it’s destroying the knowledge of the Māori culture...”

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7

 

“I love when my whole family meets at the marae, since it’s normally quite quiet and lonely there as most of the family don’t visit. I also like swimming in the river down the road from the marae because I feel more connected to my home.”

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8

 

“I enjoy a lot at our marae because I get to meet the rest of my whānau.”