Standing tall in Te Ao Māori through our Tu Pakiri programme

Every Wednesday during the school term, a new generation of rangatahi tāne step into our Tu Pakiri programme, a transformative kaupapa led by Kaimahi Danny Silivelio, Jordan Northover, Jordan Jacobs and Dion Snowden. Here, a new pathway grounded in Te Ao Māori has been designed to equip young men with purpose, cultural identity and the tools to lead their own futures.

A space to explore who they are
Designed for Māori and Pasifika tāne aged 15–21, Tu Pakiri creates a space where young men can reconnect with who they are and where they come from. For Programme Facilitator Danny Silivelio, the kaupapa is about more than just participation, it’s about transformation.

“My hope is for them to gain life skills and life experience they can take into the world. The majority come with nothing and we give them cultural identity as a tool, and from there comes confidence and leadership.”

The programme uses mau rākau, traditional Māori and Pasifika games, and experiences like diving and waka ama, all of which serve as a way to reconnect with their culture in a recreational way.

Recently the cohort prepared hāngī, and learned ways to provide for their own whānau. For Jordan Northover, he says their approach is to ensure they can learn about their culture in a relaxed and fun way.

“The boys learn to prepare kai not just to eat, but to manaaki. It’s about tying them back to their culture, and making them realise it’s cool to be proud. There’s oranga and power in knowing who you are. We move as one, like a whānau. Tikanga and everything that comes with it,” he says.

Real skills, real impact
What sets Tu Pakiri apart is how the programme helps restore their sense of belonging, teaching them to regulate emotions, build resilience and see each other as tuakana and teina. This is something that Kaimahi Jordan Jacobs says many tāne he knows struggle with.

“We teach emotional regulation, employment pathways and connection. These boys stick together and we make sure they stay connected through Waipareira. It’s all about making sure they have a network they can turn to,” he shares.

Beyond the mātauranga and physical activities, Tu Pakiri also delivers tangible life tools such as leadership, emotional literacy, confidence and pride, Jordan says.

Programme Facilitator Dion Snowden also shared that the goal for the programme is to have the boys eventually share their teachings and games with younger Tamariki involved in other Waipareira programmes. A way for them to become role models and mentors, carrying that mātauranga forward.

“We’re showing these young tāne they can do anything. If they put their minds to it, they can achieve anything, and we’re giving them the skills to get there.”

From self-doubt to self-determination, Tu Pakiri is more than a programme - it’s a solution to allow tāne to shape a better future for themselves and their whānau.

To find out more about Tu Pakiri or our other programmes call us on 0800 924 942