Come down for a free fun day

Te Waiariki Purea Trust programme leaders Barbara Chandler-Hill (from left) Kenu Taiepa, breakdancer Jay Kapene, Maylene Meroiti and Warren Tumarae are inviting young people to take part in the Community Rangatahi Leaders Day on Sunday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Young people in Rotorua are invited to a free fun day out and a chance to be leaders in the community.

The Ira Matatau Rangatahi Leadership Programme is calling for all 12 to 24-year-olds to "step up and represent" in a positive way, programme active citizenship co-ordinator Maylene Meroiti said.

A Community Rangatahi Leaders Day will be on Sunday.

"We're looking for positive attitudes, commitment, attending school or looking to be engaged in a course, they have to be role models as they will be representing the community and certain messages," she said.

"We're wanting young people to be volunteering in quality community activities and projects which can allow them better pathways of life for them and better opportunities," Miss Meroiti said.

The leadership programme is a service offered under Te Waiariki Purea Trust, which also runs Free Parking Rotorua and the Bully Free Bro programmes.

"We're not wanting to go into schools because schools are likely to give us prefects, so we've interlinked with Maraea Pomana of the Free Parking Rotorua programme, who go into parks and has been able to help us identify young people who are showing leadership."

There are three levels of training involved in Ira Matatau Rangatahi Leadership Programme with some units able to used for NCEA credits. Six young people who have taken part have been successfully placed in jobs.

The Community Rangatahi Leaders Day will be at Kuirau Park on Sunday from 1pm-4pm. A free sausage sizzle will be on offer and a wide range of sport activities are being organised by Free Parking Rotorua's Maraea Pomana & Santana Ngamok, Bully Free Bro Dance Crew with Bully Free Bro co-ordinator - Warren Tumarae will be sharing their anti-bullying messages. Rotorua District Councillor Tania Tapsell will be a guest speaker with live music and dance performances.

The event will be postponed to another date, yet to be confirmed, if wet weather sets in.