A Voyage of Growth for Northland Rangatahi

Earlier this month, twelve Northland students set sail aboard the R. Tucker Thompson as part of the annual Far North Leadership Voyage, returning home with new friendships, greater confidence and valuable leadership skills.

Sponsored by Far North Holdings and Bay of Islands Marina, the seven-day voyage brings together rangatahi from across Te Tai Tokerau for a unique experience exploring the waters and islands of Te Pēwhairangi Bay of Islands while participating in one of Northland's most respected youth development programmes.

The programme combines adventure, teamwork and personal development, encouraging participants to step beyond their comfort zones, build resilience and discover their potential. For more than 20 years, the Tucker Thompson Youth Trust has been delivering these transformative experiences, with more than 3,300 young people taking part in voyages that have helped shape future leaders throughout Northland.

R. Tucker Thompson CEO Catherine Langford says some of the most powerful outcomes of the programme are the personal transformations that take place during the voyage.

"We see all sorts of little micro transformations that, collectively, mean the rangatahi come home standing taller. For some, they will have been shy and uncertain when they stepped on board. After a couple of days, they find their place, they start to build new friendships and they discover their strengths, and that they can do hard things – and that it makes you feel great! "

The voyage offers participants a unique opportunity to experience life at sea while developing practical and personal skills. Along the way, trainees learn to sail a traditional tall ship, explore Northland's coastline, learn about the region's history and marine environment, and work together to overcome challenges.

A strong focus on whakawhanaungatanga and belonging sits at the heart of every voyage.

"I think that the creation of a safe and nurturing environment is essential for the success of the voyage. And that sense of safety is underpinned by whanaungatanga. The first two days are for learning each other and learning the ship, embedding a sense of care and connection that leads to trust. Once the trust is there, rangatahi can push themselves to try new things because it is safe to fail, to try again and everyone can celebrate in their achievements together."

This year's Far North Leadership Voyage placed an additional emphasis on leadership development. Students are put forward by their schools because they aspire to be tomorrow's leaders. Alongside the normal voyage activities, participants were encouraged to explore the values and qualities they associate with leadership, the different forms leadership can take, and the leadership styles that best align with their own character.

A unique aspect of the voyage is the opportunity for trainees to host rangatahi from Special Olympics New Zealand's Northland club, giving athletes the chance to experience life on the water, learn the ropes of sailing, climb aloft and enjoy the beauty of the islands of Ipipiri.

The voyage concluded with an emotional poroporoaki, where trainees delivered an incredible mihi, haka and waiata to acknowledge the crew and funders who help make the programme possible.

It was a spine-tingling moment when you know that this voyage has in some way changed the lives of everyone on board."

For Far North Holdings, supporting initiatives that invest in young people is an important part of creating stronger communities and future opportunities across the region.

One of the organisation's key community focus areas is empowering young adults by helping remove barriers to participation in programmes that build confidence, resilience and leadership capability.

Far North Holdings CEO Andy Nock says the voyage provides young people with an opportunity to develop skills and confidence that can positively shape their future.

“Supporting young people to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence and develop leadership skills is an investment in the future of our communities. We're proud to help make opportunities like this accessible to Northland rangatahi.”

Langford says support from organisations such as Far North Holdings and Bay of Islands Marina is critical to ensuring these opportunities remain accessible.

"As a charitable trust we absolutely rely on the generous support of organisations who recognise the value of the work we do with young people in Northland. One of our goals is to ensure that finance is not a barrier for young people to take part in a voyage. We want it to be possible for any Northlander aged 14-18 to have a Tucker experience.”

Through their ongoing support of the R. Tucker Thompson Leadership Voyage, Far North Holdings and Bay of Islands Marina are helping young Northlanders build the confidence, leadership qualities and life skills that will serve them well into the future.