Every school holidays my kids come up with the same old saying 'Im bored, there's nothing to do and nowhere to go.”
Now I have the answer to their boredom courtesy of Northland College Principal John Tapene.
Johns answer is 'Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, grow some kai, visit the sick, study for next terms exams and after you've finished read a book.
Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun. The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something. You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in poverty or sick and lonely again.
'In other words, grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone, not a wishbone. Start behaving like a responsible person. You are important and you are needed. Its too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something.
Someday is now and that somebody is you!”
Thanks John Tapene, this is going up on the fridge.

Tommy Kapai, Te Puna.