“Last chance to protect our whakapapa”
Care experienced young people urge against section 7AA repeal ahead of second reading. Care-experienced rangatahi are pleading with the government to reconsider the move to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour introduced a bill to repeal the section earlier this year, which requires the ministry to consider whakapapa and the […]
“Tragedy should not be politicised” – Outrage over reaction to young person’s death.
New Zealanders are being urged to put politics aside out of respect for the victim of a fatal crash. The teenager was one of ten in the government’s military style bootcamp trial, and according to reports is understood to have died in a crash on State Highway 1 near Tirau last week. VOYCE – Whakarongo […]
Lower Hutt & Porirua All Stars
The Porirua and Lower Hutt ‘All Stars’ brought together 16 amazing rangatahi of all ages for an afternoon full of fun and connection! Hosted at Avalon Park and Aotea Lagoon, the event created space for rangatahi to hang out with friends and meet new faces—including some who were brand new to VOYCE! The All Stars […]
From Aotearoa to the UK: What I Learnt About Youth-Led Advocacy
Mary-Lynn Huxford, National Care-Experienced Youth Participation Advisort
Public Apology for Abuse in Care Reflection
“Tuesday’s national apology wasn’t a day of justice, it was a day of acknowledgement. It was an opportunity for the general public to learn about the harsh realities being faced by those who spent time in state and faith based care institutions for several decades. As survivors we didn’t need to hear the word sorry […]
Rangatahi Reconnect
On Friday, November 1st, we hosted an epic hangout for our care-experienced tamariki and rangatahi aged 10+. The day was packed with video games, board games, basketball, snacks, and plenty of good vibes at Tarito Playt! The buzz started early with one of our older rangatahi volunteering to help set up the space. She took […]
Rangatahi Voice Shines Bright in Pōneke Tūhono!
Over the past month, our Pōneke kaiwhakamana team – Beth and Jordyn – have been out and about in Lower Hutt and Porirua, connecting with rangatahi to hear their thoughts on the events they want to see in their community. The journey kicked off with a ‘Big Plans’ drop-in tūhono, where 11 rangatahi shared their […]
Fun in the Sun
Recently, eight tamariki and three rangatahi came together at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre in New Plymouth for an awesome day out. At first, everyone was a bit shy, just quietly scoping each other out. But over the course of three hours, the group slowly opened up, and soon, the sound of laughter and chatter […]
Te Reo a Kori
We recently visited tamariki and rangatahi (ages 5-17) from across Hawkes Bay in various group whare (homes) to run an exciting and interactive session called “Te Reo a Kori – Language and Movement,” just in time for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)! The session was packed with fun activities that blended […]
Aroturuki – Games Night
On the 29th of August 2024, we hosted our second Aroturuki Games Night at the VOYCE Office in Papamoa. Nine incredible rangatahi, aged between 7 and 16, came together for an evening of fun and connection. The night was led by kaimahi JG, with support from our wonderful partners at Aroturuki Tamariki. This event was […]
