8 August 2011
Kiwi to be the Youngest Delegate at International Conference
At just 17 years old, Kahurangi Peehikuru from Auckland will be the youngest delegate to the 2nd Youth Assembly and the
18th General Assembly of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs being held in Penang, Malaysia in September.
The General Assembly, the four yearly conference of YMCAs in the Asia and Pacific region, will be preceded by a Youth
Assembly and Kahurangi has been selected by the YMCA from a number of candidates to represent New Zealand at both
events.
“Kahurangi is an extraordinary young man who will represent us well,” says Ric Odom, the YMCAs National Chief Executive
Officer. “He has been with the YMCA for three years since moving to Auckland from Hokianga and has already impressed as
a volunteer and a youth leader. Last year – at age 16 - he received the Volunteer Recognition of Service Award for
providing 500 hours of voluntary service.”
Kahurangi, with his brother Hamuera, is heavily involved in community work in the East Tamaki area and both have
successfully completed a Youth Leadership programme. Earlier this year, Kahurangi was selected for the Prime Minister’s
Youth Programme.
Kahurangi will join up to 200 other youth from the Asia and Pacific region. With the theme “Breaking Barriers,
Transforming Lives”, he and the other delegates will discuss issues facing young people, developing recommendations that
YMCAs may be able to implement. He will then team up with other New Zealand delegates attending the General Assembly.
The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs is a federation of national YMCA movements from 27 countries and territories in
the region. YMCA New Zealand is a member.
ENDS