From actors to activists, scientists to storytellers, this year’s YWCA Y25 list celebrates some of Aotearoa’s most inspirational young people.
Illustrations by Te Atarua Davis (Waikato-Tainui).
Across Aotearoa, young women and gender-diverse people are doing extraordinary things. They’re leading climate action, championing Māori and Pacific communities, advocating for mental health and hauora, and reimagining what leadership can look like.
It’s these changemakers that Y25 celebrates. Now in its seventh year, the programme, developed by YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau, recognises young women and gender-diverse people aged 15 to 25 who are challenging inequity and building stronger communities. This year’s cohort was selected from more than 165 nominations and includes advocates, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, storytellers, medical professionals, environmentalists and community organisers, with mahi spanning climate action, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, kaupapa Māori design, STEM, rural leadership and sport science.
“At a time when many young people are navigating uncertainty, these changemakers remind us what hope looks like,” says YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau chief executive Teresa Tepania-Ashton. “Y25 exists because we believe in the power, brilliance and leadership of young wāhine and gender-diverse rangatahi to shape a more equitable future. This kaupapa is not simply about individual success, it is about nurturing collective transformation.”
YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau youth engagement manager Vira Paky agrees: “Together, the recipients form a diverse community of young leaders across different experiences, who share a strong commitment to making the world better.”
Each year, the Y25 provides a six-month leadership programme offering mentoring, professional development and wellbeing support. They also become part of a growing alumni network, creating lifelong connections with young changemakers throughout Aotearoa.
Meet the 2026 Y25 recipients below.
Abby Golden, 25, ICU nurse and rangatahi champion, Ōtepoti (she/her)
Abby is passionate about helping people recognise their potential to create change. Raised in a small town, she never saw herself as a leader. Becoming involved with the anti-bullying charity Sticks ‘n Stones, she realised the importance of giving rangatahi tools to take action themselves. A passionate advocate for youth voice in governance, she works to create opportunities for youth to influence decision-making. She co-founded Te Ara Tīrama Charitable Trust, an initiative connecting rangatahi across Aotearoa through co-designed online learning. Abby is also a registered ICU nurse, caring for critically unwell patients and families through their most difficult days, demanding immense compassion and resilience.
Words of wisdom: “The most lasting impact we can have is not through what we achieve, but through how deeply we make people feel seen, valued, and cared for.”
Alesha O’Connor, 23, wearable art designer, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
After surviving a devastating house fire and enduring profound loss, Alesha turned to design as a way to process pain, rebuild identity and reconnect with herself. Now this talented designer uses human-centred design to create bespoke wearable art that transforms how people experience grief, trauma and healing through her social enterprise, To Hold, To Heal, To Protect, To Honour. Guided by manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, kotahitanga and tikanga, she creates pieces for vulnerable communities and has so far worked with burn survivors, amputees and those navigating child loss. Through 3D scanning, motion capture and welding, she breaks new ground in wearable technology, earning recognition from TEDx, the RED Awards and the Best Awards.
Words of wisdom: “Through every stage of transformation, refuse to let others shape the limits of your becoming.”
Angela Fang, 19, women’s health and safety advocate, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Angela is committed to ensuring no woman navigates inequality alone. She is the founder and chair of Te Puawaitanga Women’s Organisation, where she has led community initiatives addressing domestic abuse, securing over $20,000 in funding. As youth lead for We Are EndoWarriors, she led a national petition gathering 6,000 signatures to address endometriosis and period poverty, helping donate period products and educating students on menstrual health. The University of Auckland law and environmental science student and co-founder of the Auckland Women’s Skate Festival is also a talented writer, winning the Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize in 2026.
Words of wisdom: “Fortune favours the bold.”
Destiny Te Ao Marama Ruawhare Ruka Harris, 23, taiao regeneration enthusiast and māmā, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/ia (they))
Destiny (Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) believes teaching whānau to regenerate soil is an act of climate resilience. Their advocacy is informed by lived experience growing up in South and East Auckland with parents who were barely adults themselves, and where poverty and hardship shaped their community. But having a daughter became a turning point to break intergenerational cycles. Guided by te ao Māori, Destiny’s waste regeneration workshops heal people and place while exploring structural causes of equity issues. Having worked as an educator, pest trap technician, kaiawahina and cultural team lead, Destiny believes collective wellbeing is woven through strong communities and healthy whenua. Destiny’s hands are never clean for long, and they prefer it that way.
Words of wisdom: “Don’t wait until you’re ready. Start scared. Start while you’re way over your head!”
Elsie Polosovai, 25, creative, advocate and Solomon Islands cultural ambassador, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
At the 2025 Miss Pacific Islands pageant, Elsie delivered a live science experiment to inspire Pacific girls to see themselves in STEM. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in human nutrition from the University of Otago, she is a passionate advocate for Pacific health. As Miss Solomon Islands cultural ambassador 2024–2025, Elsie has used platforms across the Pacific to champion women’s health and Pacific women’s experiences. She also fiercely challenges colourism faced by Melanesian women in international and Pacific spaces, speaking openly about how post-colonial ideals shape unrealistic beauty standards. Alongside health advocacy, Elsie is a developing actor, balancing auditions and film projects with her work in the community.
Words of wisdom: “You don’t need to have all the answers now; some experiences are just seeds that will make sense later.”
Faiesea Ah Chee, 23, Pasifika climate activist, educator and youth leader, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Growing up in Savai’i, Samoa, Faiesea developed a deep love for her island, her people and the ocean. Witnessing the impacts of climate change transformed that love into purpose. In 2022, she became the first Pasifika representative from Auckland to attend the C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Last year, she proudly represented New Zealand at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, amplifying Pacific voices in global climate discussions. Holding a postgraduate diploma in education from the University of Auckland, today Faiesea is a teacher, inspiring young people to care for their communities, protect the environment and lead with purpose.
Words of wisdom: “The way you treat others, how you listen, and how you show up when things are difficult will shape you more than any achievement ever will.”
Farwa Nabizada, 21, refugee champion and gender equality advocate, Ōtepoti (she/her)
Having fled Afghanistan, Farwa and her family spent four years in Malaysia as refugees before resettling in Aotearoa in 2021. Experiencing displacement shaped her understanding of inequality and the barriers refugee communities face. Farwa supports Afghan women and former refugees, volunteering as a Dari/Persian interpreter and working with Community Law Otago. She participated in the National Refugee Resettlement Forum 2025, as a Youth Representative and works with the Meaningful Refugee Participation programme, using her voice to stand alongside those who are silenced. Today, because of her family’s determination, sacrifice and support, Farwa is studying law and computer science at the University of Otago.
Words of wisdom: “Embrace and love the entirety of yourself, your cultural identity, your hopes and dreams, your achievements, and your mistakes.”
Graeson Papuni-Mclellan, 25, Indigenous wāhine and youth voice champion, Ōpōtiki (she/her)
Graeson grew up surrounded by Māori and Pasifika women who embodied manaakitanga. Aged 10, Graeson (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Pāhauwera, Samoa, Mauke) began her changemaker journey with the Māori Women’s Welfare League (MWWL), learning that leadership is grounded in service, responsibility and creating pathways for those who follow. She established MWWL’s first youth membership and was elected its inaugural youth representative in 2025. She presented evidence for the Mana Wāhine claim and represented MWWL at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Navigating invisible disabilities, Graeson continues to advance Indigenous youth governance and advocate for rangatahi voices.
Words of wisdom: “Stand grounded in who you are. And if you’re still finding your way, look to your whenua, your whānau, your tīpuna, and the quiet voice within.”
Jade Nomani, 20, youth and social justice activist, Ōtepoti (she/her)
In 2023, Jade travelled to Timor-Leste, witnessing the impacts of climate change and food insecurity firsthand. Inspired by the resilience of local communities, she returned to Aotearoa and became one of four full-time youth ambassadors for World Vision New Zealand, supporting the national 40 Hour Challenge, which raised more than $900,000. Grounded in faith and culture, Jade delivered leadership workshops to students across New Zealand and Australia for the Youth Impact Foundation and represented Aotearoa as the sole New Zealand delegate at the National Leadership Forum in Canberra. Currently studying exercise and sports science at the University of Otago, she hopes to use sport for youth development and positive change.
Words of wisdom: “O le ala i le pule o le tautua – The pathway to leadership is through service.”
Jodie Rameka, 25, community advocate, Whangārei (she/her)
Jodie spent much of her life involved in Whangārei through volunteering, advocacy, and local initiatives. She is passionate about supporting people, creating opportunities and helping make Whangārei a better place for everyone. Over the years, she has worked alongside community groups, governance boards and local and central government to raise awareness of local issues, encourage community conversations and help create better outcomes for the people of Whangārei.
Words of wisdom: “It’s okay to be scared, nervous, and unsure of yourself. It’s okay to have embarrassing moments. It’s okay to not have everything figured out, but don’t stop because of those things, do it anyway.”
Jordan Tane, 24, kaupapa Māori communication designer and researcher, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Jordan (Ngāpuhi) has always made sense of the world through visual storytelling. As an award-winning communication designer and emerging kaupapa Māori health researcher, she uses design as a tool for connection and belonging. Her master’s research at AUT focused on kaupapa Māori approaches to hauora and violence prevention, working with whānau who experienced state intervention and the removal of tamariki to co-create illustrated resources for those in similar situations. As a Māori designer who is takiwātanga (autistic), Jordan ensures people feel seen and valued. She is now beginning her PhD alongside an international initiative backed by the LEGO Foundation.
Words of wisdom: “The things that make you different are often the things that will help others feel seen. Let them take up space!!”
Kenisha Mediratta, 18, Founder of REdefine Aotearoa and systemic change leader, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Growing up in West Auckland, Kenisha worked alongside rangatahi impacted by youth crime, seeing how poor mental health, racism, and social exclusion intersected. This experience shaped her belief that young people deserve a voice in conversations about complex social issues. At 16, Kenisha founded REdefine Aotearoa, a youth-led racial education kaupapa that helps rangatahi navigate the impacts of racism while protecting their mental hauora. Supported by Youthline, MYD, Buzzly and the Whau Ethnic Collective , REdefine now has a national team of 31 young people creating resources and digital content that reaches thousands online. A former national champion long-distance runner, now living with chronic fatigue syndrome, she believes fairer, equitable systems are essential for all our futures.
Words of wisdom: “Save yourself before trying to save the world.”
Layba Zubair, 21, gender equity and law reform champion, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Born in Aotearoa and raised in Pakistan, Layba became determined to speak out about injustices, particularly sexual harm, after witnessing stories of violence against women that ended in silence. Fuelled by her own traumatic childhood experiences, Layba became determined to speak up about injustices, particularly sexual harm, and she’s determined to challenge and shape systems that allow it to happen. She founded and led the nationally recognised National Consent Law Reform campaign, driving a movement for an affirmative definition of consent in Aotearoa’s Crimes Act. Guided by lived experience, focused rage and hope for a safer future for her younger sister and other girls, Layba believes change begins when silence is broken.
Words of wisdom: “There is space for young people in law, politics, business, the arts, and every other field, and we should not only be present in those spaces, but help reshape them for the people who come after us.”
Maia Lusia Anitele’a, 19, Pasifika youth advocate for education and storyteller, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Growing up in South Auckland, Maia was exposed to narratives making young Pasifika people believe their futures are already written for them. Refusing to accept that script for herself or her community, she founded LeVai of Hope, a youth-led organisation creating spaces where Pasifika rangatahi feel seen, heard and equipped. Shifting narratives for Pasifika youth, this Afakasi Samoan leader has worked with more than 400 young people through workshops and cultural identity talanoa across Aotearoa. Currently studying social sciences and Māori media at AUT, Maia is a visual storyteller and an advocate helping youth imagine what is possible when hope is unlocked.
Words of wisdom: “Continue to refine yourself and walk in the strength that you were given. You are more than anything anyone has ever told you.”
Māia Lockyer, 25, hauora Māori researcher and medical student, Ōtepoti (she/her)
Māia (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine) understands the challenges of the medical system where people navigate complex healthcare without proper support. As a fifth-year medical student, hauora Māori researcher and founder of the Haumanu Hauora Charitable Trust, she has made it her mission to help change that reality for communities across Aotearoa. Believing health literacy is a systemic responsibility, she founded Haumanu Hauora to bring together Māori and Pacific health students to translate medical knowledge into clear information. She is deeply passionate about strengthening health literacy and supporting whānau to exercise greater agency over their wellbeing. The kaupapa reflects her belief that understanding our health is a prerequisite to exercising mana motuhake.
Words of wisdom: “Whai oranga, whai mana. Pursue wellbeing, pursue empowerment.”
Mariner Fagaiava, 25, journalist, broadcaster and Pasifika leader, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Of Samoan and Tongan heritage, Mariner sees the storytelling she’s dedicated her life to as tautua, an act of service. Raised in South Auckland by a single mother, she grew up closely connected to the realities and complexities of Pasifika life. This talented, award-winning journalist, broadcaster and youth advocate uses radio, television, podcasting and digital media to amplify underrepresented voices and challenge harmful stereotypes. As co-creator of the wildly successful youth podcast Island Roots, Auckland Ways, and a proud transgender Pasifika leader, Mariner creates spaces where young people, particularly from Pasifika and MVPFFAF+ communities, can see themselves reflected in media, leadership and public life.
Words of wisdom: “Everything you need is already within you. You will glow brighter when you decide to put yourself first.”
Mira Arif, 22, governance professional and community leader, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Mira grew up surrounded by a rich tapestry of languages and cultures, grounding her fluency in Arabic. As vice president of the Waikato Students’ Union, a community liaison with the New Zealand Electoral Commission and youth worker with Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust and Refugee Orientation Centre, she’s learned the importance of creating spaces where young people feel heard and empowered to participate. Recently admitted to the Bar, Mira works in Auckland Council’s graduate programme in governance, gaining experience in stakeholder engagement and public sector decision-making. Across every role she takes on, Mira is dedicated to listening to different perspectives, celebrating cultures, and building systems that better serve communities.
Words of wisdom: “If you’re really scared to do something, it’s probably the thing you need to do the most. Nothing changes if nothing changes.”
Nasrin Najafi, 19, refugee champion and emerging engineer, Kirikiriroa (she/her)
Growing up in Afghanistan, Nasrin saw how limited life could be for women. Girls were often not allowed to study, speak in public or go outside without a male guardian. These early experiences helped her understand the value of having choices and fuelled the responsibility she now feels to help others find their voice to speak up for change. Arriving in Aotearoa as a refugee in 2022, she overcame language barriers and is preparing for an engineering degree. Nasrin serves as a youth leader in the Meaningful Refugee Participation programme and volunteers at the Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust and Refugee Orientation Centre. In 2025 Nasrin was selected to attend the Changemakers Academy at the 30th AFS Youth Assembly in New York.
Words of wisdom: “Some of the best things happen when life doesn’t go the way you expected.”
Naomi Tull, 18, STEM advocate and Genesia Girls founder, Ōtautahi (she/her)
Naomi hesitated to take digital tech at high school due to a lack of female representation, an experience of imposter syndrome that now sits at the centre of her leadership. This young STEM champion is the co-founder of Genesia Girls, a charity dedicated to connecting young women, girls, and gender-diverse youth with digital tech. The national initiative runs hackathons and game jams across Wellington and Christchurch – and soon Auckland – linking rangatahi with industry mentors. A TechStep Ambassador, Girls GameChangers Esports committee member and Canterbury University student, Naomi works to break down barriers and open doors.
Words of wisdom: “Don’t be scared to ask for something and get turned down. The more nos you get, the more likely you are to get a yes.”
Natalia Pere, 23, te ao Māori generalist, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
Natalia (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) grew up in Waikaremoana and has navigated how a person’s background can influence their future – but also that it doesn’t need to define it. As a Māori wāhine navigating rural roots, neurodivergence, and questions of identity, Natalia has experienced how external circumstances can shape the likelihood of the life she could lead. Regardless, she is motivated to walk her own path and create visibility for what is possible. Natalia studied mechatronics engineering at AUT, where she dove into hackathons, robotics and mathematics teams, and served on the AUTSA student council. Now she’s channelling that same multidisciplinary energy into a new career direction. A talented artist, Natalia was a finalist in the 2025 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards.
Words of wisdom: “Be open to change, don’t fret about straying from traditional career paths, learn what drives you without forcing yourself to hold onto it when it changes, and floss daily.”
Orini Rokx-Taratu, 21, kaiako (teacher) and te taiao advocate, Te Whanganui a Tara (she/her)
Raised in Tokomaru Bay, Orini (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a proud pā kid grounded in te ao Māori. At 18, during her first year of teacher training, Orini experienced Cyclone Gabrielle and witnessed the devastation and isolation faced by Māori communities across Te Tairāwhiti. Her experience contributing to a research project with Te Weu Tairāwhiti examining extreme weather impacts on hauora ignited a passion for embedding climate education in her teaching. Now she voluntarily coordinates climate education kaupapa through Future Unity in Porirua and has participated in an Indigenous knowledge exchange to Chile and Rapa Nui. Now qualified, Orini is working at Education NZ Manapou ki te Ao as a Māori advisor.
Words of wisdom: “Honour your tīpuna by standing on the foundations they built, and use that strength to create pathways for the generations to come”
Rahaf Gouda, 20, Palestinian rights activist and student leader, Tāmaki Makaurau (she/her)
At 20, Rahaf has become one of the most consistent and impactful young voices for Palestinian solidarity in Aotearoa. As part of the Palestinian diaspora with family from Gaza, she brings a deeply personal perspective to her advocacy. Since 2023, she has lost over 100 family members to Israel’s genocide, yet continues to organise rallies and speak with remarkable resilience and clarity. Rahaf serves as co-president of Student Justice for Palestine at the University of Auckland and is a powerful slam poet whose words move audiences toward meaningful change.
Words of wisdom: “There will be moments when you feel like you don’t belong, and in those moments, remember that you being there matters more than you think.”
Savera Sidhu, youth wellbeing advocate and karate champion (she/her)
Spending years learning karate in a male-dominated sport, Savera learned to regulate her emotions under pressure. Now, as a first-degree black belt and regional karate judge, this talented South Asian New Zealander is taking what she’s learned to share with rangatahi. She created Bright Start, a youth-led initiative delivering workshops that integrate movement and emotional regulation for preventative mental health. Savera serves with the 5Rights Foundation and Girl Rising, centering youth voice and digital wellbeing. She is currently studying psychology and criminology at university, aiming for legal practice.
Words of wisdom: “Say yes to opportunities before you feel fully prepared because growth has a way of meeting you there.”
Telesia Tanoa’i, 19, Indigenous filmmaker, actor and climate justice advocate, Te Whanganui a Tara (she/her)
Organising a school climate strike at age 12 in Fiji showed Telesia that youth can create real change when they speak up together. This talented advocate is a proud Sāmoan Fijian Kiwi filmmaker, actor, published author and TEDx speaker. Her creative work is driven by a commitment to climate justice; her award-winning documentary, Telesia 2 the World, had a successful run at international film festivals. A fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese and learner of multiple Pacific languages, Telesia’s background includes a spell at Wētā Workshop working as a bilingual tour guide.
Words of wisdom: “The world will always have opinions, but your purpose for your life is greater than any rejection. So keep being unapologetically you.”
Tunmise Adebowale, 20, writer and editor-in-chief of The Art Lens, Ōtepoti (she/her)
Growing up between cultures as a Nigerian-born, South African-raised New Zealander, Tunmise developed an early awareness of how identity is shaped through language, place and story. Tunmise is now based in Dunedin where she is studying at the University of Otago. This award-winning writer’s stories explore belonging, cultural memory and place, and have been published widely, including in Poetry Ireland Review, Starling, Landfall, The Spinoff, Newsroom, The Pantograph Punch and Verb Wellington. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Art Lens, a literary magazine and podcast platform amplifying young artists, and writes on Substack.
Words of wisdom: “Keep going even when you’re unsure; you’ll surprise yourself.”
