Youth Councils: Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) and Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Over 100 people gathered at Albany Corps for Northern Division’s Youth Councils 2022. The key aims for the day were for the rangitahi (youth) to build connections and to come to a greater understanding of what it is to live out faith in their everyday life. Every part of the day was planned with these things in mind.

The day started with a whakatau, welcoming everyone to Albany. This was followed by some games to warm everyone up and get them mixing before the rangitahi moved into workshops. Workshops included sport, Māori art, social justice, building, hearing from God, Poly Club and baking. The young people discussed how they could use these areas of interest and passion to live out their faith, while building community gardens, baking delicious scones, creating weaving masterpieces and learning a stunning siva Samoa (Samoan dance).

After a morning of flight delays due to intense fog across Tāmaki Makaurau, Captain Karl Foreman made it across to Albany in time for our afternoon session. He shared a powerful word challenging us to consider where we find our identity and what whakapono (belief) looks like, as we live out truth and faith. The session was beautifully accompanied by talented guest musicians from Hamilton City Corps who led us in worship. Also, Dhuet, from Papakura Corps, shared her testimony. Dhuet talked about how she uses her art projects and assignments as opportunities to connect the topics to God and trusts that God will be speaking to her classmates and teachers through that—so good!

The group was then split up to complete a manaaki (hospitality) project; tasks included beach clean ups, packing food parcels and washing cars, practically serving the community around us as a way of living out our faith together.

The day finished with an epic open mic night. Our MCs were rangitahi from Manukau Central Corps who had us laughing, singing and participating across the whole night. There was juggling, singing, dancing, a high-note challenge, riff-off, and the Poly Club workshop shared their siva Samoa.

The poroaki (farewell) closed off our time together and gave people an opportunity to share a thought or word that summarised what the day had meant for them. People noted how good it was to connect together again, that they had enjoyed getting in the Word, and how much they loved how everyone had got stuck in and participated.

We have many talented and passionate young people and leaders in Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau. Every part of the day was led by different people and we were so blessed by the contributions.