A poem written by a Kaikohe teenager urging people to reject negative stereotypes of her school, her home town and Maoridom has been read as far away as Parliament.
Maori Party co-founder Tariana Turia described the story about Shania Howard and her poem, published in Saturday's Advocate, as inspirational and "a gift that keeps on giving".
Mrs Turia was moved to write to Shania and the newspaper to say how excited she was to be reminded of the creative talent, leadership potential and determination she saw each day in Maori youth around the country.
"They encourage us to know our future is in great hands and for that we can all feel thankful that Shania has spoken up in the beautiful expression of her dreams for tomorrow."
Shania's poem was a powerful example of someone who was confident in herself and understood that her culture provided a foundation of strength for life. "That's the type of news I want to read every day," Mrs Turia wrote.
Shania's poem is the most-read post to date on the Far North District Council's Facebook page with more than 5000 views. She has also been filmed for Maori TV.
Shania said it was negative attitudes about her school, even from her own classmates, that inspired the poem. Many were convinced they would never achieve anything in life because they went to a Decile 1 college in a town with its share of social problems.
She is determined to prove them wrong. In February she is off to Waikato University to start a double degree in Maori development and law, despite having to overcome some serious challenges of her own, including the death of her mother when she was 11.
The poem also confronts stereotypes of Maori as no-hopers living off social welfare and getting drunk every day.