LinC 2021 Activator: The Power of Storytelling

The third of our 2021 series we embrace the art and power of storytelling. Stories bring experiences alive. Speakers will introduce you to their diverse ways of calling people in. This session will be interactive, inspiring and thought provoking. Our speakers will be giving their interpretations of the different platforms to create a narrative, using digital, cultural and encompassing everything we do to tell our story.

WHEN: Thursday 5th August, 6-8pm

WHERE: TSB Space, Tūranga Central Library (Level 1)

Nibbles available

Meet the Speakers:

Atarau Hamilton-Fuller (and rangatahi from Puāwai programme)

Atarau Hamilton-Fuller (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngaa Rauru, Ngāti Raukawa) has experience in youth & community planning, leadership, and development. Previously working as a Facilitator with a Social Enterprise which focused on providing employment pathways for the most excluded and disadvantaged rangatahi (young people) in the Hawkes Bay region. His passion is education, training, and Indigenous rangatahi development and this is clear in everything he does. His involvement in the community engagement for the Canterbury region during the 2020 General Election and continues to engage the community with his work in Ōtautahi and across the motu. He is currently a tuakana in our Puāwai programme. He is working with the rangatahi to capture their stories using digital media. In this segment they will be storytelling in a way that shares parts of their journey in defining their identity for themselves and for those around them. Speaking to parts of self discovery in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and most importantly CHOICE. - E tipu e rea

Reihana Dougherty (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto) currently resides in Ōtautahi with her 6 (& a half) year old son. She has recently made a transition from working with businesses in the telecommunications sector, to supporting the leadership team and rangatahi at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. She is in her second term on the Oranga Tamariki Youth Advisory Group and is a tuakana to the care expereinced rōpū with the Puāwai programme.

Hōhepa (Joseph-Briana) Hutana-Waitoa

" He Kupu tuku iho. Narrative is in everything we do. It is how we live, why we do what we do, how we do what we do. In a Māori world view it is the central pillar of the Whare. It is whakaapa, it is mana, it is tapu. Come and hear about how we can use narrative to create and inspire our communities through the arts."
Born and raised beneath the ranges of Kahukura despite his iwi links to the East Coast of Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata. He is the youngest sibling of the Waitoa family and whilst attending Aranui high school his and his siblings passion and pursuit of Te Reo Māori began. A couple of decades on his whānau immerse themselves in the language daily through many forums both work and community related.

He is part of an alumni of graduates from Te Wānanga o Raukawa where he
completed a BA in Māori literary performing arts and later graduated from the Panekiretanga school of excellence in te reo Māori. His previous mahi was as programme leader for the Bachelor of Māori language and indigenous studies at Ara institute of Canterbury as well as tutor/ composer/ choreographer and founder for the South islands top Haka team Ngā manu a Tāne.

Above this he is involved in Māori theatre in Christchurch and also New Zealand. But his real love is whānau, his partner and five sons.

He is the writer of He kura e huna ana which has gained good traction since its debut at the court theatre in 2015. He translated works such as Hinepau and Te Kuia me te pūngāwerewere for Takirua’s Te reo Māori season. Recently Hōhepa has been building new works through his newly established Kaupapa ‘Mahi Mahi Productions.’ These works include Jim’s Room and Te reo Māori works – ‘Te Rongomaiwhiti’ and ‘Henare.’ These works have just finished touring Ōtautahi and Wellington.

Although he is new to theatre he considers himself fortunate to have worked with stalwarts of not only Māori theatre but throughout Aotearoa both on and off screen.

Kua ora te ngākau i ēnei mahi, ā, ki ahau nei he kaupapa whakahirahira te mahi whakaari
hei waka mō te reo me ngā tikanga o tāua te Māori.
Ko Hōhepa Waitoa tēnei e mihi atu nei

Kris Herbert

Kris Herbert has has worked as a journalist and marketing consultant. She now runs a non-profit called Our Stories Trust, which has a mission to connect communities through storytelling and make local history accessible. Kris is fascinated by how the digital world is changing journalism and other means of storytelling to transform people’s experiences.

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What is Activator?

The LinC Project Activator has been designed to support community leaders across Canterbury with a speaker series aimed at inspiring and growing leaders in their communities. Each Activator event, had a different theme and focus, and offered amazing opportunities for discussion, engagement and learning. These public events are open to anyone ready to be inspired, challenged and motivated.

What Is The LinC Project?

Building communities through supporting local leaders.

The LinC Project started as a 10-month, strengths-based leadership programme for 40+ individuals from communities across Greater Christchurch in 2014. The second group began in December 2015, with 35 leaders from ‘community organisations’ and 10 leaders from Government organisations. In 2018 the LinC project becomes LinC Incubator, LinC Cultivator and Activator.

The intention of LinC is to support and sustain these leaders, their colleagues and their wider communities.