Tariana Turia: Young people have answers in them

School holidays have descended on us again, and our wonderful tamariki and taiohi are sharing with us their irresistible - or is it irrepressible - zest for life.
I spent yesterday marvelling at my 11-year-old mokopuna, Amaru, who has made it through to the semifinals of the Northcity Plaza talent quest. There's something so inspiring about seeing our young ones full of the ihi, the wehi, the wana of life!
It capped off a wonderful weekend in Rotorua where we had 60 rangatahi gathering under the mantle of the Maori Party, to share their ideas with us. It was pure magic to see, hear and observe them creating policy ideas, participating in taupatupatu (debates); compiling video clips, talking in workshops.
It was an awesome event. There were rangatahi there who were gifted academically; there were others who were kapa haka fanatics; there were those who had been schooled exclusively at kura kaupapa Maori; there were others who had been to boarding school; there were some who were unemployed; there were students attending university. It was an amazing mix of talents, backgrounds and ideas.
They came together under kaupapa Maori. It is humbling to see young people as outstanding performers and still upholding our values - picking up a tea-towel, or standing to mihi to the ringawera, to thank the hard workers who made it all possible.
I found it just so energizing to feel the passion of these young people. One young man shared his experience of time with international entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki. I heard another discussion spring up about "farming kaimoana" - with different perspectives aired about economic outcomes, employment opportunities and the importance of environmentally-responsible practice.
Over this last fortnight it has been devastating to learn of the tragic and unexpected deaths of far too many young people within our midst. All of us have been struck numb by the tragedy of lives lost, leaving us with so many unresolved questions. One factor that appears to have assumed prominence is that quality we may call resilience - how to cope with crisis; what are the strategies we all need to think of to endure challenge?
There was one moment in the wananga that helps answer this question. The roopu from Tamaki Makaurau had just learnt one of their fellow kapa haka performers had drowned in a diving accident over the weekend and they immediately clung to each other in their grief.
But as the whole wananga started to go their separate ways, it was the Tamaki lot who dragged passengers out from their vans, and pleaded for just one more game of "pukana".
And so, as the entire 60 joined in a circle once more, and lost themselves in the fun of the competition, I thought there is so much to be said for that spirit of kotahitanga; the closeness that is established through the process of whakawhanaungatanga, when we share our histories and make connections with one another. It is about looking out for one another; relying on each other; understanding the value of collective care. As I said earlier, these young people gave me plenty of reason for reflection, and inspired optimism that our future is indeed in good hands.
And for all those who couldn't make it last weekend, there is the Whanganui Rangatahi Summit starting this Sunday, July 24 through to Wednesday, July 27. The summit is a joint initiative between the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board and Ngati Rangi Trust, to be held at Maungarongo Marae in Ohakune.
Contact: Chaana @ Ngati Rangi 06 3859500 or chaana@kahuimaunga.com or Sheena @ WRMTB 06 34 58160 or sheena.maru@wrmtb.co.nz.