Advice from younger me to me, now

So, I don’t know if I have much advice for you,

I just think you underestimate yourself

and all the knowledge and skills you’ve built up

over time. 

I’d like you to remember

what having tuākana to look up to meant

when you were my age.

So perhaps I’d just like to encourage you

to keep engaging with rangatahi in your life - 

talk to us, ask us questions about what we think.

Focus on building strong community because

that’s going to make a stronger, more resilient 

community for us all.

Rauhina Kohuwai-Banks

16/4/2026, Ōtepoti: toikupu #16