Kōkirihia Rangatahi Mobilisation - building a rangatahi movement

Shifting systems requires bringing people on the journey – engaging hearts and minds to find collective solutions and build momentum. We know that to make the required shift in our education system we need to empower rangatahi to have a voice as part of the solution.

A pilot programme was developed in 2023 with a group of rangatahi in Ōtautahi. The pilot involved a series of wānanga where school leaders from several Ōtautahi secondary schools came together to grow their awareness of the issues relating to harmful streaming, and to come up with a range of creative solutions about how to build a rangatahi movement to: 

a) ensure widespread awareness among rangatahi about their rights to a fair and just education
b) create momentum to build a movement using digital media channels.

Ultimately the purpose was to create a mechanism that ensures rangatahi have autonomy over their future, and to support them to shape that future by being part of the design and decision-making in their education outcomes. We provided a space to empower them to see their experiences and voices as tools for change.

Just as Kōkirihia is a blueprint for ending streaming in our schools, we see this kaupapa as a blueprint for activating rangatahi agency in education. The role of Tokona te Raki is as the connector to bring rangatahi together and to support them to take the lead. This is about activating a rangatahi-led movement for social and system change. This is not a new idea. We have tested the kaupapa, built the relationships, created the case for change, and have momentum. We are now in a position to advance this kaupapa by sharing the knowledge and designing solutions and ways to engage further across the motu. 

Rangatahi have the potential to be powerful levers for change that will ensure every single child has access to a fair and equitable education experience.