In mid July, we took a group of eight Instep Young Leaders on a journey to attend the Festival for the Future (FFTF) in Wellington. Sponsored by Instep Priority One, Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and Western Bay of Plenty District Council, these young leaders were poised to explore, learn, and bring back invaluable insights.

FFTF is celebrated as New Zealand’s premier leadership and innovation summit, a convergence of bright minds addressing significant issues, showcasing possibilities, and honing ideas and skills for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

The Young Leaders were asked to collaborate, as a group, and write an article about their experiences, key learnings, highlights and reflections from the event.

Day one of the festival was packed with insightful panel discussions and interactive workshops. The Toitū Te Tiriti kōrero was a key highlight, addressing how, “Toitū Te Tiriti is an opportunity not only to decolonise but to re-indigenous”, as Stacey Te Pōhue Rose said. The panel emphasised acknowledging one’s whakapapa and understanding the privileges and accessibility that come with it. Many of the panel speakers spoke about the need for authentic representation and upholding mana from both Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti. Lata Pope’s powerful statement, “your sweet existence softens the wounds of your ancestors’, resonated with many, empowering them to exercise their tino rangatiratanga individually and collectively. In gathering our thoughts and whakaaro for the future by learning from the past, this panel urged attendees to reflect on their roles in advocating for not only Māori, but all Indigenous voices around the world.

For attendees like Penny Doull and Avah Smith, this panel was particularly impactful. Avah felt her opinions on Aotearoa’s current political landscape were validated, gaining a deeper appreciation for her Māori whakapapa and ethical representation of Tangata Whenua voices. Penny, on the other hand, learned more about her responsibility being a Pākehā leader and how she can acknowledge her privilege and use her platform to do good in our communities. This experience significantly enhanced their leadership skills in how important it is to have these conversations in order to advocate for their values, and indigenous perspectives. It highlighted the need to foster open, respectful dialogue about indigenous kaupapa, empowering attendees to use their voice and drive meaningful change. 

The workshops throughout the day provided further opportunities for the young leaders to engage deeply with these themes, creating an environment of learning and growth. They got the opportunity to meet with inspiring members who spoke at the panel discussions. Prabjyot Kaur’s main highlight was the “What does it mean to build a legacy” panel discussion- an insightful kōrero about the topic of trailblazers. A particular standout for her was Veisnia Moli, the first ever Pacific head girl at Marlborough Girls’ College, and Y25 Recipient in 2023.

Moli emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for individuals who face discrimination to break down systematic barriers. She expressed her desire to ensure that she is not the only Pacific girl to serve as head girl at Marlborough Girls’ College, and hopes to inspire her nieces and others to follow similar paths of leadership. A key takeaway from the Festival For the Future for Prabjyot was the exceptional leadership qualities demonstrated by the speakers and the inspirational stories they shared during the panels. 

The final panel of the day, titled “From Position to Person: Exploring the Human Stories Behind the Systems.” was one of Abby Duncan’s highlights of the trip focusing on how to navigate conversations with people who hold differing opinions and beliefs. A powerful topic and lesson for people of any age. During the panel the main points conclude of the importance of respecting others’ right to express their views, Being open to challenging and potentially revising one’s own beliefs, understanding that it is possible to respect someone but also disagree with their views simultaneously, and finally, understanding that each individual experiences the world in their own reality and sometimes that doesn’t match with yours, and that’s ok. 

One of Amber Peck’s many highlights from the festival was learning from the main panel speakers about how to never put a cap on your potential because it’s the things people don’t see that matter the most with leadership. This was said by Ezekieal Raui on the second day of the festival. A quote he said, “feel the fear and do it anyway” stuck with her. This describes anything you do in life, you need to push through the discomfort and keep going.

Another speaker Adrianna Bird described our journeys all starting from different places and how finding yourself takes time. “We don’t need a handful of people taking perfect action; we need millions of people taking imperfect action everyday”. Explaining that no one is perfect and we all make mistakes. What matters most is that we are trying to take action everyday on the things that matter most to us. It’s ok to make mistakes because leadership is strengthened by vulnerability. 

The Festival For the Future 2024 was a life-changing experience for the Instep Young Leaders. It provided them with opportunities to learn from inspiring individuals, engage in meaningful discussions, and reflect on their personal leadership journeys. Many of the young leaders felt out of their comfort zone during the event, embracing challenges that prompted personal and professional growth. This immersive experience encouraged them to confront new perspectives, and discover the power of vulnerability when advocating for diverse voices. The Festival was incredibly inclusive which reinforced the importance of authenticity, ethical representation, and advocacy for marginalised communities.

The energy at FFTF was palpable. The Young Leaders returned to the Western Bay of Plenty, brimming with motivation and equipped with new skills to champion change in their own lives and their communities.

The future looks bright with such enthusiastic leaders coming to the helm. We’d like to express our gratitude for the thoughtful and inspiring article the Young Leaders created together. Your insights and reflections on leadership and community involvement are truly impactful. It’s encouraging to see young leaders stepping up to drive meaningful change. Lastly, we would like to thank our sponsors. Instep Priority One, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council.