Keep Te Kāhui Flying!

Kia ora koutou,

I hope you’ve kept warm in these winter months. And for our cheerleaders spread across the globe, may that warmth be found in your friendships, families and homes (even if it’s sweaty times in your hemisphere).

My name is Sherry Zhang, the co-manager of Te Kāhui Creative Writing. Te Kāhui is by-rangatahi-for-rangatahi kaupapa within YANZ. We provide equitable and accessible creative opportunities to rangatahi in prisons and communities across the country so the next generation of Aotearoa’s storytellers are equipped with the skills, space and support to realise their creative voice. I co-manage the programme with Ruby Macomber. Eric Soakai is our Facilitation lead, and Phodiso Dintwe as our Creative Strategy Lead. You can learn more about us here.

You may remember Te Kāhui starting as a volunteer kaupapa with ad hoc creative sessions at Mount Eden Corrections Facility. Six years later, we are now a team of passionate writers, poets, rappers and storytellers facilitating weekly sessions in prisons and communities across the motu. For many of our rangatahi, Te Kāhui is their first opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of their creative voice. The skills developed are essential for self-reflection, story sovereignty and expression. You can read more about the kaupapa via Arts Access Aotearoa.

Our impact has increased exponentially in the last year. We are programming across more sites, working with more young people and wāhine than ever. Yet just as our flame is shining the brightest, so are the challenges in the funding landscape. The government’s tough-on-crime agenda prompted the termination of many funds and made scheduling on-site programmes incredibly difficult. Currently, we are the only Arts in Corrections program offered across the country that aims explicitly to work with rangatahi in adult Corrections facilities. To continue weekly programming, we are looking to our community to help us raise awareness for the importance of equitable, accessible arts opportunities for our whānaunga inside.

Ways you can support our kaupapa!

1. If you would like to share/donate to our Boosted Campaign, here is the link. It’s an all-or-nothing campaign, so in three weeks (29th of September), we need to reach our 5k goal.

2. If you would like to share/attend our fundraiser show on Friday, 26th September, in Tāmaki Makaurau, here is the Eventbrite link for a ticket!

3. We’d be so grateful if you could share any of our social media posts! @te_kaahui

We are deeply appreciative of any form of support and grateful for the warmth our communities have already shown us. Equally, if there is any way our team can support your work, as creatives, artists and community connectors, please reach out. Community is powerful, and we are lucky to be weathering this storm with your aroha.

Ngā mihi,

Sherry 谢谢 (Te Kāhui Co-Manager)