[Anglican Taonga] Youth leaders from around the province gathered in Auckland for three days last week to grapple with the questions around how best to help hurting young people.

This was the theme for this year’s Raukura, which is a gathering designed by the Tikanga Toru Youth Commission to equip young leaders with extra skills.

The keynote speaker at this year’s hui was Dr Sue Bagshaw, who chairs Christchurch’s Korowai Youth Well-being Trust, which runs that city’s 298 Youth Health Center. She spoke on:

• Youth development and the brain;
• Risk and resiliency – reducing young people’s vulnerability and boosting protective factors;
• Self-harm and suicide – understanding the difference and how to help;
• Mental health and what youth workers can do to help.

Michael Tamihere, who is the Tikanga Toru Youth Commissioner, says the 22 young leaders (who gathered at the St Francis Retreat Centre in Hillsborough) “were treated to a wealth of knowledge and insight around these issues.

“They were offered practical tools to help deal with them – including introductions to motivational interviewing and approaches used in cognitive behavioural therapy.”

Alongside Sue’s teaching, social workers from the Child Youth and Family Service and specialists in teaching at-risk youth gave insights into how to best work in Māori and Pacific Island settings.

Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley, who is the youth liaison bishop, felt this year’s Raukura served as a reminder of two key things:

“First, of the reality that our young people across our Three Tikanga face some serious challenges.

“But secondly, of the incredible support and resources available to us to ensure that our young leaders are equipped to respond.

“We were blessed by superb teaching and workshops, had some great opportunities to listen to one another’s experiences and stories, and gained a deeper understanding of one another’s contexts.”

Farewell to Benjamin 

Raukura also provided an opportunity for friends and colleagues to give thanks for the service of Benjamin Brock-Smith.

Benjamin not only chaired the Tikanga Youth Synod before the Youth Commission came into being, he helped set up the Commission and served as its chairman for its first four years.

Benjamin wound up his service to three Tikanga youth ministry and networks at General Synod earlier this year. He’s now operating as the Diocese of Dunedin’s Future Church Educator.

On the final evening of the hui – which ran from November 11 to 13 – a dinner to celebrate Benjamin’s service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Otahuhu. Guests were hosted and entertained by the Good Samaritan Youth Group from the Tongan Congregation of Ofa Kihe Laumalie Ma‘oni‘oni.

To see a gallery of photos from this year’s Raukura, head to www.facebook.com/younganglican

To view a tribute video to Benjamin shown on the night check out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrQaDgzEO_Q