Four students – two from Auckland and two from Northland – are in Sydney representing the One New Zealand Warriors at the annual four-day NRL Indigenous Youth Summit.
Among the group is Lucas Fenton from Broadwood Area School – Te Kura Takiwā o Manganuiowae in Kohukohu district, home to One New Zealand Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris.
Also from Northland is Kiani Rawiri who attends Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa in Awanui while the Aucklanders are Elijah Rogers from Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae and Kairoa Hynes from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Māngere.
Before departing for Sydney, the rangatahi watched a One New Zealand Warriors NRL field session and met the players.
Later the four teenagers were formally presented with their club colours by One New Zealand Warriors NRLW head coach Ron Griffiths and NRLW player Natalia Hickling.
Griffiths and Hickling spoke about their own proud connections to their Indigenous heritage and encouraged the rangatahi to embrace their identity, culture and the opportunity to represent their kura, whānau and communities.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Elijah, Kairoa, Lucas and Kiani to celebrate their culture, strengthen their leadership skills and build lifelong connections with other young Indigenous leaders,” he said.
“They will carry the mana of their whānau, kura, communities and the One New Zealand Warriors with them. We are extremely proud of each of them and look forward to seeing how they use this experience to inspire others when they return home.”
The rangatahi will travel with Warriors Community Foundation staff Charlotte Scanlan and Katelin Scott joining 64 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students representing the other NRL clubs.
The NRL Indigenous Youth Summit is an annual leadership and cultural development programme for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori secondary school students.
Through workshops, cultural experiences, mentoring and group activities, the summit supports participants to grow their confidence, strengthen their connection to culture and develop the skills to become positive leaders within their communities.
The programme brings together emerging young leaders from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, providing opportunities to share their cultures, learn from Indigenous mentors and build relationships through rugby league.
The Warriors Community Foundation acknowledges and thanks Aktive and The Moko Foundation for their support in helping make this experience possible for the rangatahi.
