In this edition of the Whaingaroa Youth Worker Collective Rangatahi Page we want to highlight all the awesome mahi that young people do to contribute to our beautiful community.
We also wanted to acknowledge an outstanding business, Xtreme Zero Waste, who for a long time has mentored, supported and trained our local youth and community. The Youth Worker Collective is very grateful to these young men for all their hard work in our community and agreeing to be interviewed. They have some real words of wisdom!
Ivan Waitere came late and is in the photo but didn’t have time for the interview.
Jack Guran:
Tell us about life at the moment and why Xtreme Zero Waste has been good for you.
Life is good, early wake ups. I like to work and hang out with the bros. I’m enjoying work. I’m enjoying making money and making myself feel good through my work. I love the people that are here. Everyone talks to you really nice and no one is judging you. They don’t care if you make mistakes they will help you out and teach you from the start, and at work you are always with at least one of your bros. You can work and have fun at the same time, work hard and meet new people.
What sorts of values does Xtreme Zero Waste have?
Poutama – everyone tries to make you go the hardest. While you are on the run you will have your bro next to you who hypes you up and so it helps your fitness and mentality. You are working, having fun with your bros and making money.
I like the fact that we are keeping the environment clean; we have a beautiful place; I want to make it look good, feel good. People come here and I want to keep our town clean and beautiful.
Xtreme has helped me so much. They set up a whole course so I could get my learner’s license easy as. They have given us really good life achievements like a fork lift license so I can change jobs if I want to. I can get HT and any other licenses. Xtreme is really helpful.
What advice would you give to young people?
For me, I would tell a younger me always focus on yourself, think ahead to the future but also live in the present so that you are living your life to the fullest, but you have a plan for the future. And remember money is key. If you’re not liking school it’s not alright to just drop out. Make sure you get your credits and get what you need so you can have a decent successful job. My dream is to own my own business. So focus on what your passion is, so work for your passion.
What advice would you give to the community about supporting young people when they are growing up? What’s life like growing up today?
Don’t judge a book by its cover. I get it, there’s like 6 or 7 young boys that walk around the town. But we aren’t looking to start trouble. Sometimes when things go down we don’t do it for no reason; there’s always a reason but people don’t see it. People see us in groups and target us because of the way we look and act, but realistically they would have done the same thing 20 years ago.
Manaaki Riki:
Tell us about life at the moment and why Xtreme
Zero Waste has been good for you.
Pretty good at the moment and loving the money. I’m learning so many life skills from this job and it’s helping with different parts of my life. I like that it’s an outside job. In my previous job not many people talked to you, but here heaps of people talk to you.
What sorts of values does Xtreme Zero Waste have?
It’s like a whanau up here I would say. Everyone is real close up here. You can talk to anyone, have good conversations and tell them anything and laugh with all the bros.
Yeah, it’s great to keep the town clean because it’s a tourist attraction and we have great beaches.
Xtreme has helped me a lot with my license including my learner’s, forklift, and helping me at the moment with my restricted. They have helped me heaps and paid for it as well!
What advice would you give to young people?
To be honest, probably stay in school; it’s harder out of school than it is in school. Once out of school you can change your life and try something different. Chase your dreams!
What advice would you give to the community about supporting young people when they are growing up? What’s life like growing up today?
I probably say same as Jack – don’t judge a book by its cover. Sometimes it might look like we don’t do the best things but we’re just doing something different; it can be boring in this town. There used to be more to do in this town. Now look at us… mahi… mahi
Kya Smith:
Tell us about life at the moment and why Xtreme Zero Waste has been good for you?
Working is all good, and getting a bit fit. Work is helped me out a lot and is still helping me out. It’s great company here and much better than staying at home or school. To be honest it’s just great to keep Raglan clean.
They give you pretty much heaps of opportunities for your life in the future. Helped me with my restricted and forklift.
What advice would you give to young people?
Follow what you want to do in life whatever you are passionate about. Stay in school!
What advice would you give to the community about supporting young people when they are growing up? What’s life like growing up today?
Life is stressful. It can be easy and hard. Life comes both ways – you have to be expecting the unexpected. Life can be pretty hard when you are growing up with school!
Hikairo King Gardiner:
Tell us about life at the moment and why Xtreme Zero Waste has been good for you?
Life and work is good. Life is kick back. You get good pay! I feel good picking up rubbish for our community. Xtreme has helped me with licenses, forklift. You can ask them for other stuff too, like if you want to join other courses.
What advice would you give to young people?
Be aware of what you are doing. Think about things before you do it.
What advice would you give to the community about supporting young people when they are growing up? What’s life like growing up today?
Life is all good. Heaps of people judge but I don’t care. Listen to the young ones about what they are saying! You can judge me but you don’t know me!
