Rangatahi Leading Change: From Capability Building to Internationally Acclaimed Insights

Jarna is born and bred in Whanganui raised on a farm and is a past student of Whanganui Collegiate School with strong whakapapa ties to Ngārauru, Te Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi, and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga. She is no stranger to Healthy Families Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Ruapehu. Now on her third internship with the team as a Systems Innovator, she brings a dynamic mix of academic expertise, youthful energy, and lived experience grounded in the hopes and dreams of her whānau. Jarna is in her third year of university, currently completing her second-year Law papers, pursuing a conjoint degree, a Bachelor of Health Science and a Bachelor of Laws.

Alongside her studies, Jarna plays an active leadership role within her university. She sits on the executive of Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake, the Māori Law Students’ Association, where she serves as the Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā (Communications and Socials Officer). She is also a part of Te Roopū Māori, the wider Māori Students' Association, and participates in events like Te Huinga Tauira, a national Māori tertiary students’ Conference that includes kapa haka, sports, and networking opportunities. Her commitment to kaupapa Māori, both in and beyond the classroom, reflects her passion for collective success and cultural identity.

Jarna is currently leading the development of a walkthrough of the Hāpūtanga Wānanga. The walkthrough would be an informative evaluation, which tracks the changes made throughout the wānanga process, explores the impact, and reflects on how the wānanga was delivered and how effectively it meets its goals.

Jarna has also been offered an incredible opportunity to present the Gambling Harm Insights Report, a report she led, at the upcoming Gambling Harm Conference in August. Her report has already gained international recognition, having been shared at the International Gambling Harm Conference and cited in the International Gambling Harm Journal, a testament to the depth, relevance, and leadership embedded in her mahi. For Jarna, the opportunity is both humbling and exciting.

Over the course of three internships, Jarna has grown into a confident, capable voice in spaces where rangatahi are too often overlooked. Reflecting on her journey, she shares:

“I'm more confident now compared to when I first started. I’m able to speak up and not think about my age. I can also share information clearly. Healthy Families has been supportive, even when they know how young I am, they're not dismissive of the ideas that I and other interns bring to the table.” 

At Healthy Families WRR, her perspective isn’t just welcomed, it’s actively invited. When she was working on the Gambling Harm Insights report, she was entrusted with full creative control, and what she delivered reflected both her critical thinking and her emerging leadership.

One of Jarna’s biggest areas of growth has been in communication and facilitation. Her time in the kaupapa has sharpened her ability to communicate complex ideas with everyday people. She’s learned how easy it is to fall into jargon and technical language, but being in an environment that prioritises understanding has helped her refine her voice. Over time, she’s noticed her confidence in speaking about kaupapa Māori has only grown stronger.

Jarna’s story challenges the stereotypes often placed on young people. Her journey proves that when rangatahi are supported, mentored, and given a platform to express their voice, they don’t just participate, they lead. Leadership, as Jarna demonstrates, has no age limit.

“Healthy  Families and Te Oranganui as a whole have impacted my life. It's so nice to be able to serve back or to be able to give back to my communities. It's a fulfilling feeling, and it goes far beyond what the job gives to me; it's about purpose, people, and knowing I’m part of something bigger.”