A first-of-its-kind Whakatane District Council-led youth development project has been hailed a success following a completion program held recently in Murupara.

The Mana Taiohi programme engaged potential young leaders with small teams from the district's rural communities and supported those teams in planning and project managing events in their communities.

Marcus Akuhata-Brown (centre-front) and members of the Mana Taiohi programme.

Erena Brew of the Whakatane District Council says the program provided real hands-on opportunities for young people to turn their ideas and events into reality.

'In the process they have obtained an appreciation of the skills and planning required to run events in their respective communities.

'They have also learnt the importance of good communication, what it means to be a reliable team member and how to network to get support for their event.”

On the final day of the Mana Taiohi youth development programme on July 7 participants came together to share lessons learnt, talk about their next life steps and to listen to educator Marcus Akuhata-Brown share his story about taking up opportunities when they came to him.

The programme is funded through the Ministry of Youth Development and Mana Taiohi programme co-ordinator Renske Forsyth says it has been well recieved and supported.

'The energy and gifts these young people have to share with their commuities is already obvious.

'It's exciting to share their journeys of self-discovery.”