Flaxmere Heroes: Te Ikaroa Rangatahi Services star on calendar

The Te Ikaroa Rangatahi Services feature as March on this year's Flaxmere Heroes calendar. Photo / Paul Taylor

A group which goes where "angels fear to tread" took out the month of March in the 2017 Flaxmere Heroes Calendar.

Te Ikaroa Rangatahi Services is a community-based social service provider which has been working in Flaxmere for 10 years and Hawke's Bay for more than 20.

The group caters to the needs of tamariki, rangatahi and whanau and the founder, Mere Ruru, is committed to making a difference for youth.

"We work to protect youth and we have had young go on to university and employment; there have been a lot of successes. It is so humbling."

Ms Ruru said it was great to be recognised in this setting and given the opportunity through the U-Turn Trust, which joined with Te Aranga Marae to create the calendar.

"My roots are here and a lot of the team lives in Flaxmere or Hastings."

The group provides one-on-one mentoring, foster care and residential homes for youth aged from 0 to 17 years and their families.

Ms Ruru said seeing the families and youth find their own pathways was just so rewarding.

"We work with a lot of youth offenders who come with some baggage and some of their family members do too. We sit down and meet with them and help them create a plan.

"When we see these people follow their plan and take their plan on we get the biggest thrill, it is incredible to watch."

The organisation works closely with the Child Youth and Family arm of the Ministry of Social Development and the local police.

"I take my hats off to these people, as they are huge with our organisation."

Ms Ruru said being apart of the heroes calendar was such an honour.

"I have seen it for a number of years and there are always interesting people recognised. It is great to promote these people in our backyard as often you don't actually know what others do."

U-Turn Trust ambassador Henare O'Keefe said the team were passionate about those they were mandated to serve and an inspiration.