Kahukura Ritchie
Kaiārahi Māori Development Team Lead | Kura Wānanga Coordinator and Youth Worker
Kahukura grew up in Whaingaroa/Raglan and is Ngāti Kahukuraawhitia, Ngāti Moe, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Rangitāne ki Wairarapa.
In 2018, BGI offered him an internship to study at Praxis (a network of youth development practitioners) where he got involved with a rangatahi Māori leadership development programme called Tuia.
Kahukura loves video games, cooking, diving, whānau, and his dogs. He's in the final year of his Bachelor of Youth Development, but also supports rangatahi as BGI's He Whakatipuranga Hou coordinator and Kura Wānanga Lead. On top of all this, he mentors through Oranga Tamariki, Police, and Iwi Justice referrals.
Kahukura realised at his first BGI information evening just how helpful a mentor would have been for his younger self. Now, through helping others, Kahukura has found pride in his identity and a passion for deepening his connection to his whakapapa.