Finding your place to stand | Tāmati Cunningham | TEDxYouth@Christchurch

Koukourārata is Tāmati Cunningham’s place of belonging. This little place on Banks Peninsula in the South Island of New Zealand has had, along with Te Ao Māori (the Māori world), a significant influence on Tāmati growing up. In this thoughtful and informative talk, Tāmati shares the importance of the concept of "tūrangawaewae" - or "place of belonging" - in being our best selves. Tāmati Cunningham’s maunga is Te Ahu Pātiki, his awa is Koukourārata, his whare is Tūtehuarewa and his iwi is Ngāi Tahu.
He is passionate about normalising Ao Māori and the Māori language, and empowering rangatahi Māori voice.
Recently he was part of the group that created Environment Canterbury’s new Youth Rōpu; he is now one of the rōpu’s two manawhenua representatives.
Tāmati is also a Year 12 Head Student at Cashmere High School, and was involved with Student Volunteer Army’s UCan High schools programme. He loves waka ama, rugby and boxing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@madave92]

Such a beautiful testament to the growth and restoration of these places and people. Tēnā koutou Koukourarata!

[@yumikofujikura262]

Excellent speech. My daughter is engaged to a young man from Maui. This helps me understand him better. Thank you!

[@jackhirsch6675]

From Maui? Quite different from indigenous of New Zealand, the Māori.

[@emmaafa]

What a fine young man you are Tamati, I have no hesitation in showing your awesome video to my Year 7 classes as everything you talk about covers our term topic of turangawaewae...I love how you covered the ability for non-maori to have a standing place as well...so important for our rangatahi to understand in these modern times...tenei he mihi nunui ki a koe e Tamati, ko koe te tangata pai rawa atu! arohanui na Whaea Emma x

[@seza1713]

Thanks Tamati. That was a fantastic speech.

[@khromethirteen5628]

At the END That VIBATION YOU FEEL ... MAORI PROUD🤟🏿🤟🏿

[@esha1472]

Congratulations sir!!! Thankyou for everything :)

[@khromethirteen5628]

...Brother YOUR WORD is ABSOLUTE TRUTH MAURIORA HEAD HEART N SOUL PROUD TO BE MAORI FOREVER N A DAY NATIVE BY NATURE🫡💪😝😎🩶🤟🏿🥰

[@sweetazz01]

Awesome 🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@abrahamwharepapa1604]

Tena koe Tamati tika tonu te korero Your realism Whakapapa Iwi Hapu Turangawaewae he Papatuanuku he Ranginuitera Te Ao Marama Matariki Kiaora Papakura ahau ......

[@jennahayre5585]

As an American, your accent was hard to understand at first, but well worth the listen. Thanks!

[@mikenaughton2477]

My cousin from New Zealand,,,,,very impressive!!😁😁

[@chiaralanfiutibaldi9976]

Would anyone be able to provide a full transcript of the speech? I'm not from NZ and while I can mostly understand Tamati's English I'm missing and can't figure out most of the words in Maori, whose related concepts I'd like to research. Thank you!

[@kaiwilliams12]

Churr Tamati! You did bloody awesome bro

[@thinley5934]

Kaiporohu Williams-Bragg ohhhhh staraigggght ahhhhhppp

[@natashayerkovich6602]

kia ora brother ka pai

[@kiki29073]

To look at him he looks like a white guy. I was surprised when he started talking and I read the description of his bio.

[@happychest239]

There is a lot of fair skinned Maori, my Son is blonde with green eyes and white skin. Most people wouldn't pick I'm his Mother as I'm the complete opposite lol.

[@FAMEROB]

​@@happychest239 95% white looks like it or light skin Maori as you call it

[@FAMEROB]

he sounds Maori at least