Jenaya and Tom's Inspiring Conference Presentation.

Jenaya-May Morehu (12KTW) Tom Apanui-Drewet (13MTW) presented at a conference in Christchurch on the 7th of August to over 1000 people. The presentation was called “Showing up when it matters”. As members of a youth council (Mana Tū, Mana Ora), which was created by Te Hā Oranga, Jenaya and I advocate for the mental health of Rangatahi in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

We talk to people in power about what Rangatahi need to better equip themselves for mental health challenges. Jenaya did our karakia and Tom did the Whaikōrero and then the presentation continued on for an hour. Tom is one of the House Prefects for Mātauranga and Jenaya is a year 12 student, both students are part of the school’s bilingual unit, Te Whare Āhuru. Jenaya has been able to balance actively contributing to her youth council, performing with our school kapa haka group, Taiohi Tātaki, at polyfest, and continually showing up for our school’s whakatau and pōwhiri. 

Jenaya is 5 credits away from getting her level 2 NCEA and is currently gearing up for her second performance at Autaia which is a haka theatre performance that thousands of people come to watch at the ‘Kiri Te Kana Theatre’ She embraces our school motto “seek the heights”.

Tom is one of our Gold Badge Prefects, he regularly takes the lead in school whakatau and is going to study conjoint Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in film production and creative writing, minoring in indigenous studies.