Growing Confident Voices: Puatala and the HIIT910 Journey

Every HIIT910 programme is different, because every group of tamaiti aʻoga brings their own stories, their own challenges and their own spark. This term, working with Te Kauwhata College and Ngā Taiatea Wharekura reminded us just how much potential sits inside our young people when they’re given space to breathe, be seen and be heard.

On day one, many tamaiti aʻoga walked in quiet, unsure, keeping to themselves. But as soon as we set the tone through whakawhanaungatanga, boundaries and real talk, something shifted. They realised this was a place where their voice mattered. Not a classroom. Not a lecture. A space for them.

As the weeks rolled on, we watched confidence grow in ways that were raw and honest. Some tamaiti aʻoga shared about conflict at school. Others spoke about the pressure of social media or situations where they didn’t feel safe. These weren’t small kōrero. These were the kinds of conversations young people carry quietly because they don’t want to burden anyone.

But when they opened up, they weren’t alone. They supported each other. They listened. They learned what sits beneath their reactions, their emotions and their decisions. And slowly, you could see them standing a little taller.

By the time we reached public speaking, the transformation was real. The same tamaiti aʻoga who whispered in Week 1 were now standing in front of the room, owning their story, speaking with pride and backing themselves in ways they didn’t think possible.

Last week’s celebration with Jeoff and the Puatala whānau was emotional. Certificates were handed out, ula lole were shared and smiles lit up the room. But the real celebration wasn’t the paper or the photos. It was the belief those tamaiti aʻoga now carry within themselves.

HIIT910 isn’t just a programme. It’s a journey of watching our young people realise, often for the first time, that they are capable, worthy and powerful.