From activists to artists, advocates to entrepreneurs, the YWCA Y25 list for 2024 celebrates some of Aotearoa’s most inspirational young people.
Illustrations by Māori Mermaid.
Across Aotearoa, young wāhine and tāhine are doing amazing things. They’re fighting for representation, campaigning for the environment, starting sustainable businesses and making positive change in their communities.
It’s these trailblazing New Zealanders that Y25 celebrates. Over the past four years the programme, developed by the YWCA, has highlighted 100 incredible young women and those beyond the binary. Now back for 2024, Y25 has again selected a group of inspirational community leaders aged between 15 and 25. From more than 100 nominations, the final 25 were chosen for their vision, their leadership and their impact.
As a committed Tangata Te Tiriti organisation, the YWCA is intentional about encouraging wāhine and tāhine Māori to apply. This year there are nine Māori on the Y25 list, the highest number ever.
Those selected for Y25 embark on a six-month wraparound programme with tailored support, creating bonds with other members of the cohort strong enough to last a lifetime. New for 2024 is an online position in the programme, acknowledging the impacts of Covid and the advocacy of young leaders in the disability space – making this year the first Y25+1.
“The Y25 shows us all the different ways you can succeed in Aotearoa. Many have faced challenges and used these experiences to build their tenacity and determination to make our country better. The Y25 platform is all about giving these trailblazers space to speak their truth,” says Genna Hawkins-Boulton (Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahine), associate YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau & Y25 programme lead.
Meet the 2024 Y25+1 below.
Alis Bouma, 21, wāhine STEM & takatāpui champion, Ohaupo (she/her)
Alis grew up in the countryside of Kirikiriroa Hamilton, in a close-knit Dutch family that fostered her passion for equity and innovation. A talented queer wāhine in STEM, she aims to engineer a better world, address climate change and promote urban design that reduces car dependency. Now in her final year as a mechanical engineering student at the University of Waikato, her capstone project focuses on improving beach accessibility for wheelchair users. Alis is also learning to play the violin, keyboard and synths. She aspires to become a science communicator and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and women in STEM.
Words of wisdom: “Push your limits, try new things, explore the world. If you’re stuck in your shell – get out there and break it!”
Annafinau Eseta Ponita Tukuitoga, 19, country musician & Niuean language activist, Paeroa (she/her)
Niuean-Fijian Annafinau is a rising country music/bluegrass star. She won Creative New Zealand’s arts, culture and creativity award at the 2022 Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards. Named New Zealand country music youth ambassador by the prime minister, Annafinau credits her success to the strong women in her life, like her nan and mum. She travels across Aotearoa, encouraging rangatahi to explore country music and inspiring them along the way. A champion for her endangered Niuean language, she incorporates its phrases into her music. In 2024, she was selected as the youth ambassador to Hawaii, representing young Pasifika people from New Zealand.
Words of wisdom: “You don’t need fancy clothes or things to fit in. You are different, you are unique, and you are you.”
Eda Tang, 25, journalist & NZ Chinese heritage advocate, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
This talented storyteller and journalist highlights important stories from underserved communities across Aotearoa. Eda’s work has featured in The Spinoff and Ensemble and she is a former Pou Tiaki journalist at Stuff, where she covered te ao Māori, arts, health, culture, language and education. A life-long learner, Eda is studying te reo Māori to continue understanding her role as Tangata Tiriti, and is now writing and hosting Āku Hapa!, a Māori-language TV show which will air on Whakaata Māori in 2024. As a second-generation Chinese New Zealander, Eda amplifies Aotearoa’s Chinese heritage and captures its oral histories. She was a facilitator for Migrant Zine Collective and works with Satellites, a kaupapa connecting Asian artists in Aotearoa.
Words of wisdom: “There’s enough space for all of us.”
Grace Fakahau, 20, social justice & Pasifika activist, Te Whanganui a Tara / Wellington (she/her)
Proud of her Tongan roots, Grace is a dedicated leader of grassroots initiatives and is driven by social justice and community values. Growing up in Palmerston North, she served as Head of Communities at Palmerston North Girls High School and Head Girl at Amanaki STEM Academy. She champions inclusivity, diversity and decolonisation while advocating for marginalised communities and leading climate marches. Grace is currently studying law, public policy, and Pacific studies at Te Herenga Waka / University of Wellington. Within that, she is focused on humanitarian and criminal justice law. A law tutor and former chair of the Palmerston North Youth Council, Grace also interns at Treasury and works with Manatū Mō Te Taiao Ministry for the Environment. Her grandmother is very proud!
Words of wisdom: “Give everything a try! You never know what you’re good at unless you do. You have a God-given talent, so find it and use it to give back to your village.”
Isobella-Rose Kenney, 23, child’s rights protector & māmā, Whāngarei (she/her)
Bella (Ngāpuhi) is a tireless child’s rights champion, māmā, victim support advocate and member of Te Tai Tokerau Youth Council at VOYCE Whakarongo Mai. Unapologetic about the impact of state care on her life, she works to prevent others from experiencing the same. She connects the care community through tūhono events and supports victims on the front line. Bella ensures people feel cared for, loved, safe and calm in life’s toughest times. In 2023, she stood up at VOYCE’s Summit, presenting the Six Promises Petition to parliament. Bella inspires younger leaders and strives for a just world for children in care. She’s an inspiring role model for her daughter.
Words of wisdom: “Treat everyone as your equal. They are not better than you, and you are not better than them.”
Jeri Misa, 21, rangatahi advocate & Manurewa champion representative, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
Jeri is a passionate advocate and community champion dedicated to amplifying marginalised voices. Growing up in Manurewa, South Auckland, she faced challenges that ignited her commitment to social justice. When she’s not hitting the law books at the University of Auckland, she’s out there fighting systemic injustices head on. At Youthlaw Aotearoa, Jeri helps rangatahi navigate the maze of legal stuff with ease. As chair of the Manurewa Youth Council, she ensures local youth are listened to and understood. Jeri played a key role in organising South Auckland Future Fest, the neighbourhood’s first career expo, and has advocated for youth empowerment during the cost-of-living crisis. An immigrant from Southeast Asia, Jeri fights stereotypes and strives for a fairer, more inclusive Aotearoa.
Words of wisdom: “Be proud of where you’re from! You stand on shoulders of resilience and sacrifice; be the best legacy you can be.”
Kayla Schwalger, 22, mental health & Pacific youth changemaker, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
Kayla grew up disconnected from her cultural roots, navigating her identity as a young tama’ita’i Samoa in a westernised society while grappling with mental health issues. Kayla is a neurodiverse wahine with borderline personality disorder, and writes about it on her blog, The Worst of Kayla. Kayla’s experience with mental health stigma in Pasifika communities fuels her in her work to empower youth to embrace their heritage and achieve holistic wellbeing. Co-founder of Tapasā – Navigating Futures, Kayla helps youth uplift their mental health by reconnecting with their cultures. She is currently pursuing a masters at AUT and is freelancing as a website designer, artist, copywriter and photographer. Her thesis, ‘Navigating mental health in the digital age – insights from young Samoans and their communities’, ties it all together.
Words of wisdom: “Take risks and leaps of faith even when you feel nervous. Taking chances can lead you to unexpected destinations and spaces made exactly for you.”
Lena Ormsby, 18, political trailblazer & rangatahi role model, Heretaunga/Hastings (she/her)
Lena (Waikato Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi) is a proud wahine Māori on a mission to shake up the status quo and ensure ethnic minorities have equal opportunities in and out of the classroom. Lena has been a leader at Hastings District Youth Council since 2021 and is also a key member of Rito o te Paremata, parliament’s youth reference group, which she will chair in 2024. She is passionate about engaging youth in politics. From launching campaigns to plastering the country with infographics, she’s all about reminding rangatahi that their voices matter. Lena is studying law and global studies with a focus on human rights and global politics. She also excels at public speaking and has won several awards including Tohu Eke Panuku, the Human Rights Commission Award for Impact.
Words of wisdom: “Whānau, however we may define it in our lives, is the backbone for what we accomplish in whatever capacity.”
Lola Fisher, 16, media representation advocate & entrepreneur, Whanganui (she/her)
Lola grew up in the digital age but felt young voices were being misrepresented online. So she took action. In 2022, at just 13 years old, she co-founded Create Happy Media, a platform empowering rangatahi to share their stories. Since then, over 60 youth journalists have joined the platform and published over 260 articles. Lola is dedicated to ensuring tamariki and rangatahi are heard, it’s actually her full time job. In her other venture, Gen-Z Aotearoa, Lola works with activists to amplify Gen-Z voices via social media, on-the-ground work and collaboration with organisations. In everything, she has a big heart and is a champion for community and meaningful youth engagement.
Words of wisdom: “Don’t ever underestimate the impact you can make simply by speaking up and sharing your truth. You have unique perspectives, ideas, and experiences that deserve to be heard and valued.”
Malisha Munidasa, 21, cultural enthusiast & engineer, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
Malisha embodies a rich blend of Sri Lankan and West Auckland cultures. She’s all about community and youth empowerment. As co-chair of the Whau Youth Board, she champions initiatives like YouthFest and aims to unlock young people’s potential. Inspired by her immigrant parents’ journey, Malisha co-founded Duality to support Sri Lankan youth in Aotearoa and foster community. At university, she founded the Desi Girls Society to provide a safe haven for South Asian women. Malisha dreams of launching a nonprofit in Sri Lanka and is studying civil and environmental engineering at the University of Auckland. Humanitarian aspirations and spontaneous adventures fuel her.
Words of wisdom: “Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential for living a fulfilling and balanced life.”
Maringi Kete , 23, te ao Māori & climate trailblazer, māmā, Ōtorohanga (she/her)
As the first granddaughter on both sides of her whānau, Maringi (Ngāti Mahuta ki te hauāuru, Ngāti Maniapoto and Te Whakatōhea) feels a deep sense of responsibility to her people. Raised in King Country, she was the first in her family to graduate and now practises environmental law. While studying she co-founded Te Ahoroa, a groundbreaking Māori law student magazine. As a resource management lawyer, Maringi advocates for harmony between people and the environment. Her passion for environmental stewardship and indigenous rights has even taken her to Brazil as a recipient of the prime minister’s Latin America scholarship. Maringi’s vision for a future where tangata and taiao thrive in harmony guides her legal work. It’s all about empowering mana whenua to fulfil their responsibilities as kaitiaki on their whenua.
Words of wisdom: “If service is beneath you, than leadership is beyond you.” – Miriana Stephens
Matakorama Waipouri, 20, disabilities & mental health advocate, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
Matakorama (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa) is dedicated to improving accessibility in her community. She knows what it’s like to have physical and cognitive challenges. Matakorama lives with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia and global developmental delay. In a world where ableism is rife, she teaches others to stop, listen and understand people’s needs rather than making assumptions. Matakorama advocates for inclusivity and champions youth causes. She holds a variety of advisory roles, including one with the Ministry of Education’s Te Mahau Advisory for Young People with Disabilities. Matakorama’s journey from surgeries to sports participation speaks to her resilience. As well as competing in athletics and kayaking, she journals, reads poetry and loves hanging with her dogs.
Words of wisdom: “The disability is not the problem, the non-accessible environment is the problem.”
Mele ‘Ofa-Ki-Vila Mafi, 22, rangatahi in STEM trailblazer, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
Mele, from the Kingdom of Tonga, is a pioneering STEM leader who integrates indigenous knowledge with her outstanding leadership skills. Born in Aotearoa and raised in Tonga by her remarkable single mother, Mele excelled academically, and earned a scholarship to study engineering in Aotearoa. As president of the South Pacific and Indigenous Engineering Students Society at the University of Auckland, she creates opportunities for Māori and Pasifika engineers. Mele also supports young STEM enthusiasts. She tutors high school students and was recently invited to become a key adviser at the Māori and Pacific Engineering Research Centre. She currently works as a graduate civil engineer at Mott Macdonald.
Words of wisdom: “Your toughest experience will build one hell of a tough gal and trust me you will look back and laugh so keep going!”
Nat Young, 23, nurse & LGBTQIA+ health entrepreneur, Ōtautahi/Christchurch (they/them)
Nat (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha Ngāti Māmoe) knows from experience how many in the LGBTQ+ community have bad experiences with healthcare, affecting their mental and physical health. To address this, while pursuing a masters in health science and a bachelor’s in nursing, Nat joined the Future of Health challenge. Nat created a peer-reviewed website for the LGBTQ+ community, co-founding PEERS in 2022. PEERS provides a database of rainbow-friendly healthcare providers, improving access to better healthcare. A registered nurse, Nat aims to make a positive difference in patients’ lives, especially within their community. Nat also supports a young man with autism, helping him gain life skills.
Words of wisdom: “Keep your head high because nobody can erase us, and be kind to yourself because you deserve it.”
Noēll Ratapu, 25, artist & disability & LGBTQIA+ activist, California & Tairāwhiti/Gisborne (she/her)
Virtual Global Y25er for 2024
Noēll Ratapu (Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Māhaki) has always used art as an outlet for creativity and self-expression. Her work, spanning photography, painting, drawing and digital tools, communicates her perspective as a queer, disabled, indigenous woman. Noēll has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and uses a wheelchair, having lost the ability to walk aged 11. Now a resident of Southern California, where her whānau moved to access life-saving treatment, Noēll’s striking self-portraits and abstract art have been featured in galleries and online. Growing up in Tairāwhiti, her experiences fuelled her advocacy for disability rights. Today she also champions LGBTQIA+ equality, sexual abuse awareness, mental health awareness, and Aotearoa’s medicine crisis.
Words of wisdom: “Embrace every aspect of your being and do not be ashamed of taking up space.”
Rosa Hibbert Schooner, 23, te ao Māori advocate & unhoused rangatahi kaiarataki, Te Whanaganui a Tara / Wellington (she/her)
Rosa has been an activist since she was at kura, when she was one of the only Māori ākonga in her year and had to quickly learn the complexities of inequity and colonialism. At uni in Ōtautahi Christchurch, this passionate wahine joined the Māori student movement, advocating for kotahitanga. Rosa was the first in her family to learn te reo and visit her marae, and she draws on the beauty of te ao Māori in her activism, unleashing atua. Her drive for equity for Māori has led her to Te Ō, City Mission in Te Whanaganui a Tara Wellington, where she works hard to end rangatahi homelessness. This multifaceted wahine is also a poet, kaihaka, māra kai creator and lover of pūrākau.
Words of wisdom: “Be unapologetic in your pursuit of you. Unleash your inner atua. Return to your ancestral lands and walk where your tipuna walked. Our taiao and atua hold the answers – listen, and listen well.”
Rosalie Norton, 19, musician, speaker, & rangatahi advocate, Kirikiriroa/Hamilton (she/her)
Kirikiriroa-born 19-year-old Rosalie Norton draws inspiration and strength from her whakapapa, helping her to express her story, culture and experiences through music. In March 2023, under her stage name Lehali, Rosalie released her self-written and produced debut album Growing Pains, which explores growing up, navigating life and her identity. But music’s not the only string to Rosalie’s bow. At 16, Rosalie became TEDxRuakura’s youngest speaker. From there she went on to speak at events and facilitate workshops for youth through mindbox.nz, her business offering hauora workshops and products for rangatahi. She also practises youth advocacy through her work on a number of boards across the motu.
Words of wisdom: “Let yourself be surrounded by people who inspire you, make you smile, and show you that you don’t have to be anyone but unapologetically yourself.”
Rutendo Shadaya, 16, storyteller, author & literacy advocate, Tokoroa (she/her)
At just 16, Rutendo’s already making waves as a self-published author. What began as an idea for a single fantasy story at age nine is now set to be a trilogy as she works on her third book. With her roots in both Aotearoa and Zimbabwe, Rutendo’s spellbinding books aren’t just stories – they’re journeys of empowerment, representation and positive change. Being a self-published author has its challenges, from getting the word out to battling age-related roadblocks, but Rutendo hasn’t let that stop her. She’s all about resilience and grit, facing obstacles head-on with grace and tenacity. Rutendo is also a community champion advocating for literacy, representation, and enabling rangatahi, especially those of colour.
Words of wisdom: “Never let your age or background define you.”
Sahana Rahman, 25, artist & community activist, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/they)
Sahana, an artist and honours graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Massey University, values authenticity and believes it leads to positive outcomes. Combining creativity, community, and culture in her work, Sahana, of Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, grew up in Wellington and now lives in Auckland. Her art explores multi-hyphenated identities, decolonisation, life events, healing, and spirituality through multimedia, especially embroidery, textiles and painting. Sahana runs workshops on Nokshi Katha, a fading Bengali tradition of communal embroidery, aiming to revive this practice. She aspires to be a full-time artist, fostering community healing and connection through art.
Words of wisdom: “Don’t allow anyone to dim your vibrant, authentic self and be unapologetic; it will attract the life you desire. Prioritise joy and laughter.”
Sanskruti Banerjee, 22, changemaker, dancer, poet, & wāhine activist, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland (she/her)
Sanskruti, born to a Tamilian mother and Bengali father, fuses activism, creativity, and leadership. Known as Pataka (firework), she aims to blaze a path to an equitable world. As vice-president of UNYOUTH, she coordinated a 550-person event, empowering rangatahi in civics education. Studying law and commerce at the University of Auckland, she received the 2024 Dean’s Leadership Award. Sanskruti has MC’ed panels, appeared on podcasts, guest lectured, and presented at the national TOAH-NNEST conference on consent and sexual violence activism. An established journalist and former editor of Craccum magazine, she explores feminism and South Asian culture through poetry. As a professional dancer, she expresses her whakapapa through movement. Her ambition stems from a desire to be the representation her younger self desired.
Words of wisdom: “The secret recipe to a fulfilling life? Passion. Find something that gives you a fierce sense of ambition, makes your eyes sparkle upon its discussion and sets your soul on fire.”
Sara Youssef, 22, Islamic youth leader & Sisterhood co-founder, Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland (she/her)
Born and raised in Cairo, Sara is a trailblazing Muslim wahine who aspires to help others live better lives. As president of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Student Association and an AUT councillor, she co-created and led the university’s Te Tiriti strategy. She is currently a management consultant at Nimbl Consulting. Sara co-founded Sisterhood ANZ, a network of women across NZ and Australia, and co-chairs the National Islamic Youth Association (NIYA), leading their outreach programme around the motu along with other community events. In her spare time Sara advocates for the human rights of this and future generations, with a caramel latte in hand.
Words of wisdom: “I promise there is light at the end of each tunnel.”
Tara Shepherd, 21, environmental & disability champion, Kawatiri/Westport (she/her)
Tara has long been dedicated to disability advocacy. Growing up in Westport and seeing first-hand the effects of coastal erosion fostered her passion for the environment and interest in emergency management. In 2019, she petitioned for the remediation of the Hector legacy landfill, securing $1 million for the project. At 19, Tara became the waste management coordinator for the local council during the ‘100-year flood’ of 2021, coordinating flood waste removal and setting a template for ongoing NEMA work. She is co-president of the National Disabled Students’ Association and welfare and equity officer for the Otago University Students’ Association, where she aims to amplify young, diverse voices.
Words of wisdom: “The places you have the most challenges are the places you have the most to give.”
Tayla-Cade Petera-Gerrard, 24, community & Indigenous champion, Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington (she/her)
Raised by a teen mama in Te Tai Tokerau, Tayla (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Porou) has a kaupapa all about making places and spaces better. Having studied political science and Māori indigenous studies at Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University of Wellington, she now works to support Māori into tertiary studies and find where they belong. Community welfare in underserved areas is a big part of Tayla’s drive for system change. She likes to remind people, “it costs you nothing to be kind to someone else.” Tayla is fuelled by the whakataukī: He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.
Words of wisdom: “Let your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
Te Kahukura Boynton, 20, finance podcaster & tangata whenua kaiarataki, Tokoroa (she/her)
Te Kahukura (Ngāti Kahungunu, Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea) is the host of Māori Millionaire, a long-running podcast dedicated to empowering whānau and rangatahi to become financially independent. Not just a podcast, Māori Millionaire is part of a comprehensive education platform that teaches people how to better manage their money, invest, and start their own businesses. This young trailblazer is deeply passionate about creating change for under-privileged communities and reducing the wealth gap. Te Kahukura believes improving their financial resources helps empower indigenous communities to live authentically, without the need for support from the Crown. Te Kahukura’s favourite saying is “It’s not about buying Gucci bags, it’s about buying land back.”
Words of wisdom: “Start that business. Post the post. Be courageous. Time passes regardless!”
Una Kinajil-Reding, 17, disability in sports & takatāpui champion, Ōtautahi/Christchurch (they/them)
Una hopes to help create a world where everyone, regardless of ability or identity, can pursue their athletic aspirations. This gender-fluid athlete, who has Erb’s Palsy, is campaigning for better inclusivity in sports. Una’s own lived experience has propelled their passion for championing transgender and gender-diverse athletes and empowering individuals with disabilities. As a member of the Halberg Youth Council, Una spearheaded inclusive sports in Canterbury, providing young people and children with disabilities access to sports like netball and athletics, often for the first time. Una has played a pivotal role in shaping discussions on gender inclusivity within the Halberg Foundation and continues to seek out opportunities to amplify the voices of transgender and gender-diverse individuals in sports.
Words of wisdom: “Self-discovery and acceptance take time, don’t rush it.”
Zoe Dzapasi, 18, young entrepreneur, writer & speaker , Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington (she/her)
In 2023, with the support of the Youth Enterprise scheme, Zoe launched a board game, Ngano, aimed at encouraging young people to take an interest in the old Zimbabwean stories that her grandmother had passed on. That same year, she gave her TEDx talk, “The crushing reality of black exceptionalism”, about the polarity in stereotypes of people of colour. At 18, Zoe is already a fierce advocate for her community and part of the #blacklivesmatter movement in Aotearoa. She participated in the Strengthening Democracy Project, presenting a series of recommendations for a more just NZ democracy to the prime minister and other members of the government. Currently studying health at university, Zoe also writes stories and teaches speech and drama.
Words of wisdom: “You have to be who you were and who you are now, to become the person you’ll be later.”
