This year’s New Zealand Student Leadership Conference – Rangatira 2024 was an opportunity for young people to step away from their busy lives, connect and contemplate what they want their future in leadership to look like.
Nobody knows the importance of positive education better than Māhera Maihi, who we were privileged to hear from as guest speaker at Rangatira this year.
Raised in South Auckland amid the challenges of a gang-affiliated family, Māhera transformed adversity into a platform for change. Inspired by her father’s words “education is the key to freedom”, she built a career around empowering and uplifting Māori taitamariki [youth].
In conversation with Māhera Maihi, we discuss mindset, how education unlocks doors, and the bright future of Aotearoa.
Leadership is service
When we caught up with Māhera after conference, we chatted about her version of leadership. As an inspirational leader herself, we wanted to know how she defined her own style. These words by Dame Whina Cooper resonated with her:
“Take care of what they hear. Take care of what they see. For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa.”
Māhera, too, dreams of a world where future generations will be born into a better, more just Aotearoa than we know today. She believes in the power of taitamariki.
She told us, “They are our future, they stand on our shoulders, just as we stand on the shoulders of our tupuna who laid the foundations before us. Our young people will see further, do more, and take us beyond what we can imagine. This is why investing in them is not just important; it is essential. They will shape the future of Aotearoa.”
And prepare them, she did, when she shared her heartfelt story with over 100 Rangatira participants.
Māhera added that leadership begins with service. “A good leader must always keep the collective well-being of their community at heart. I remember a story of [Māori queen] Te Arikinui, who was not afraid to clean her marae [meeting place] toilets. That’s leadership through role modelling.”
A passion for education
At Rangatira, Māhera inspired students with her journey to establishing Mā Te Huruhuru, which provides opportunities for Maori youth. The organisation creates pathways for taitamariki, enabling them to contribute to their whānau [extended family], their hapū [community], and our iwi [people], in meaningful ways.
“What began as a vision to uplift our taitamariki Māori has grown into a platform that empowers youth through education, cultural reconnection, and skills development,” Māhera explained.
She also gave us insight into what drives her to do the grassroots work that she does: “Education is not just about learning facts or acquiring skills. It’s about liberation. It’s the key that unlocks doors, offering opportunities that many in our community, including myself, might have believed were out of reach. Education helps break generational cycles, allowing individuals to shape their own futures.”
She gave us some examples of this in action, such as how she takes pride in being the first in her whānau to achieve key milestones like obtaining a full driver’s licence, purchasing a car outright, buying a home, and starting her own business.
Māhera conveyed her passion with conviction to our Year 12 audience, who loved hearing her story. “Growing up, I saw firsthand how limited our choices can be without education. I am passionate about it now because I want to empower others to realise their potential.”
Talking of passion, she encourages us all to pursue what truly ignites our spirit.
“When passion is at the core of our decisions,” Māhera said, “It brings purpose and resilience. There will be challenges along the way, but passion provides the energy to keep moving forward. When your passion informs your choices, your work becomes more than just an obligation; it becomes your calling, your contribution to something greater than yourself.”
Fundamental leadership qualities
When we asked Māhera about her leadership style, she told us that empathy, vision, and integrity were fundamental qualities. As Māhera puts it, “Empathy allows leaders to understand the needs of others and to connect on a deeper level, ensuring that decisions are made with the well-being of everyone in mind.”
We couldn’t agree more. At yLead, we follow the principle of connection before content, meaning empathy, honesty, vulnerability and inclusiveness are always at the forefront of our minds.
She added, “Vision provides direction, showing the way forward, while integrity ensures that the path is walked with honesty and transparency. Finally, a strong sense of cultural identity, understanding our tikanga, and upholding our Māori values are essential in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.”
These values are why yLead is so proud to have connected with such an inspiring young leader like Māhera and honoured to have welcomed her to the Rangatira stage. What a role model for young people in Aotearoa.
Where to now?
Before we signed off, we wanted to know Māhera’s thoughts on the future. Her insights were as uplifting as we’d hoped…
“There are so many opportunities on the horizon for our Māori community, especially when we harness the power of technology and entrepreneurship. We are living in a time where cultural knowledge and digital innovation can work together, allowing our taitamariki to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. With the right support, we can continue to empower our youth to become leaders in their own right, strengthening not only their futures but the future of our entire community.”
yLead is excited to be a part of that future, empowering the youth of New Zealand. With Rangatira coming to a close, our team is full of big ideas for our next steps in student leadership in New Zealand.
We would like to thank Māhera for joining us at Rangatira 2024 and for continuing her powerful and important work in the community. It’s because of people like her that we do what we do.
