Ageing Māori climate activist Mike Smith is trying to encourage rangatahi into leadership roles.
Mr Smith spoke at this week’s Festival for the Future conference in Wellington, encouraging young New Zealanders to connect, build capability, and take action for social causes.
He says the attendees were exuberant and showed great manaakitanga to their peers and elders.
Older generations, especially males, should not be seeing a new generation of leaders as an end of their mahi.
“Handing over the reins doesn’t mean we don’t get to ride on the horse. When I give them the reins and we jump in the cart the horse is towing and it’s better place to be some times,” Mr Smith says.
He says kaumatua mentorship on a marae is a good model to emulate.
