Mayor seeks young leaders to ‘step up, give it a go’

Susan O’Regan

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan is on the hunt for smart, inspiring young people to join a national leadership programme.

The Tuia Leadership programme is aimed at outstanding rangitahi Māori who have the potential to be leaders and contribute to their community. It involves a young person working alongside their local mayor to gain insights, receive one-on-one mentoring plus share their views and insights into what is important for youth.

O’Regan is actively looking for applicants and is putting the word out for young people to “step up and give it a go”.

“It’s a great programme and Waipā has been part of it for a long time. I’m very keen on making it easier for young people to have a voice at Council so I’m really keen to see someone take up this opportunity,” she said.

The programme involves a monthly informal meeting plus attendance at some formal occasions. Those involved are aged between 18 – 25 and want to be actively involved in making their community a better place. The young person selected must also be available for a wananga at Mangatoatoa Marae from Friday 10 to Sunday  March 12.

“The programme is not hugely formal, but it does have real value and will open doors and expose someone to new and valuable experiences. The successful applicant will need to be open minded, confident in sharing their views and most importantly, be willing to learn,” O’Regan said.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and it has big wins for Council because we will get a unique young person’s view of what’s important, right here, for Waipā.”

O’Regan is inviting potential applicants to do their research and email her directly by Monday, February 6 at [email protected] to outline standard information (name, contact details, age etc) plus provide an insight into their schooling history, their community activities or passions, their sporting or cultural involvement, their plans for the future and most importantly why they want to be involved and what they want to achieve.

 

More Recent News

Piarere work completed

Piarere’ s new 60 metre roundabout is complete. Transport Agency Waka Kotahi began work on what was a state highway 1 and 29 T-intersection in January last year. Vehicles heading from Tauranga frequently backed up…

On the Waipa Radar – here is the news in secret

12 September 2025 Waipa District Council has provided The News with On the Radar editions numbers 13, 14, and 15 See: Council response       22 August 2025 After we had to request them…

Consultants cash clash

12 September 2025 Updated to include responses from Clyde Graf and Stuart Kneebone. 10 September 2025 A disagreement over the definition of “consultants” versus “consultancy services” has put a team of Waikato Regional Council candidates…

Wanted: a new roof

Cambridge Community House, struggling to meet increasing demand for its services, must replace the roof on one of its older buildings. The timing isn’t great, but it must be done and preferably by the end…