LEADING FOR CHANGE

Ihorangi Reweti-Peters aims to change the outcome for children in Oranga Tamariki care.

The 17-year-old Mairehau High School student has become a spokesperson for those in the care of the agency that have experienced abuse and to improve the conditions and services available to young people.

Though currently in a placement with 396 provider Key Assets, which he says is the ‘best I have ever had’, and his needs are being met, he had experienced abuse himself in five of the 14 foster placements prior to Key Assets.

It was through this experience and constantly being not listened to by Oranga Tamariki that Ihorangi knew he needed to share his experience and help others.

He was invited to speak on his hopes and dreams by University of Canterbury at a postBudget breakfast hosted by the Child Action Poverty Group in Christchurch.

Here, he released two calls to action.

“The first call to action was to put to Oranga Tamariki to provide proper and appropriate mental health and counselling support for young people. And the second was to narrow the scope of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care to get young people that have experienced abuse post-1999 the chance to share their stories and give evidence to the Commission to improve modern care policies.”

The second was adhered to, and the Royal Commission now has jurisdiction to allow young people to share their experiences of abuse in the inquiry.

However, the first was not answered. So Ihorangi is passionate about striving forward with his mental health kaupapa.

He is now the current chair of VOYCE, Whakarongo Mai South Island’s regional youth council, and cannot speak highly enough of the children in care system advocacy group, and he is regularly called on by the media to give comment on Oranga Tamariki reports – like the recent release on the low numbers of children in care registered with a general practitioner.

For Ihorangi, politics is on the cards as he looks to the future, and his passion for change drives him forward.

Do you know a young person who deserves some recognition? Email editor@avenues.net.nz

Monty

The first Morgan was a three-wheeler built in 1909, and the first four-wheeler arrived in 1936. The Plus 4 was first produced in 1950, so called because of its increased power over the original 4-4 (four cylinders and four wheels).

The current model – the Plus Four – is still hand-made in Malvern in the United Kingdom but based on a bonded aluminium chassis rather than the original steel one. It still incorporates the use of laminated Ash timber in the rear wheel arches, retaining a lot of the history of the early models.

Our car – nicknamed ‘Monty’ by one of our oldest friends – is the realisation of a boyhood dream of mine. I always wanted to put my name down on the waiting list as a young man in England, but now we have the time to really enjoy it. We had a wonderful drive down from Pearce Brothers’ Auckland showroom, the recently appointed New Zealand dealer, apart from getting caught out by a sudden downpour as we approached Wellington!

We are now enjoying regular day trips around Banks Peninsula and looking forward to more extended touring as summer progresses.