Carrying on Rip's work

Ron Hough and Petera Hudson.

Members of a Whanganui trust were in Auckland last night to receive a prestigious Vodafone World of Difference Award to further the work started by Black Power leader Craig "Rip" Rippon.

Petera Hudson and Ron Hough are determined to improve the lives of marginalised young people in Whanganui through Te Ngakau o te Matipo Trust and will continue the efforts started by Mr Rippon who died after an assault last month.

Mr Rippon was killed on November 8 at a property in Whanganui's Rimu St.

Six people have been charged in relation to the death.

"Rip was a visionary - he wanted change for his mokopuna, to leave a legacy that would see them lead productive, purposeful and valued lives outside of the gang parameters," said Mr Hudson this week before boarding a plane to Auckland.

Two years ago, Mr Rippon knocked on the door of the Nga Hononga Marae Charitable Trust saying he wanted help to create better opportunities for his grandchildren.

Nga Hononga Marae Trust manager Nihi Houia well remembers the rainy day Mr Rippon turned up asking for support.

"He saw that there were limited opportunities for the rangatahi (youth) and he wanted find ways to create new opportunities," Mr Houia said.

Te Ngakau o te Matipo Trust was born and a community garden was established followed by a kura set up in a Housing New Zealand property in Matipo St.

There courses in literacy and numeracy and ways for mothers to interact positively with babies and children were made available and people were directed to study towards diplomas in horticulture.

The success of the trust in engaging youth led to a Trustpower Energy Direct Whanganui District Community Award in October.

Mr Hudson, with more than 30 years' experience in education in New Zealand and overseas, has his own reputation as a visionary.

His name will be familiar to many Whanganui people because of his involvement in Latin dance with Salsa On The Awa, the Masters Games and the Computers in Homes programmes.

"The Vodafone World of Difference Award will enable us to build on Rip's vision, and we need support from the education, health, police, justice and corrections sectors," Mr Hudson said.

"We need to build those relationships and meet around one table." He said it is important to gain a proper understanding of the needs of rangatahi and structure education and training in a way that would lead to successful outcomes.

"It is important to find out what their goals and aspirations are and see how those fit with the needs of the community.

"We also need to identify the educational opportunities that will lead to sustainable employment."

Mr Hudson is one of just seven national recipients of the World of Difference Awards who will receive financial and professional support for one year while they work for their chosen New Zealand charity.

In a citation for last night's award, he was described as an "inspiring man" aiming to improve the lives of "in many ways forgotten youth living as part of the Black Power community in Whanganui". The Vodafone Foundation has this year reached the milestone of $20 million in grants towards supporting New Zealand youth.