Katikati Taiao would like to warmly introduce our newest team members

Alan (AJ) Maxwell (Ngāti Whare, Ngāi Te Riu, Ngāti Rākaipaaka, Ngāi Tūkairangi)  joined Katikati Taiao in January this year as our Community Activator. “Alan has hit the ground running, bringing to bear his experience in community-led development in Featherston which aligns perfectly with our strategic intent here in Katikati’ says Katikati Taiao Chair, Paul O’Neil.

Alan was previously employed as a youth development co-ordinator in Featherston, South Wairarapa, by the Anglican Diocese of Wellington. Alan was credited with making a huge difference in reducing youth offending in Featherston. ‘When I arrived (from Masterton) in 2005, most of the youth didn’t feel very welcome or felt they were part of the community, or even wanted’, says Alan.  He began a youth programme which engaged youth with the community through activities like gardening, working bees and fundraising events for community projects. ‘The minute they felt they were part of the community, all of the trouble stopped. They had a sense of belonging’, says Alan.

Building on this experience, Alan will be focusing his efforts in community engagement and connection with those community groups who are seen to not have much of a voice here in Katikati – particularly youth, Pasifika and working families. If you’d like to get a hold of Alan, you can contact him at alan@katikatitaiao.org, facebook.com/KatikatiTaiao, phone: 0278092615