Wanting to get a degree in human biology by the age of 19 is just one of the reasons Manukau City Council has chosen to sponsor Harley Stirling- Emery to attend the 2001 Young Maori Leaders’ Conference in Wellington on 6 & 7 August.

Head girl at Te Kura Kaupapa o Nga Tapuwae, Harley has proven to be an exceptional role model for rangatahi.

Harley’s millennium achievements included being captain of the senior netball and touch teams, sportswoman of the year, touch player of the year, netball player of the year, dragon boater of the year as well as second place winner in the senior Auckland Regional Manu Korero speech competitions, top academic student, house captain, and best all rounder.

Mangere Councillor John Kerr says Harley was picked to represent Manukau because of her outstanding commitment to education and sports.

“The leaders hui is about creating, networking, building relationships and furthering aspirations of Maori. Harley has a proven commitment and what she learns at the hui will strengthen her commitment to Manukau. We need more uplifting images of Maori in Manukau and through Harley and the support of the Council we will achieve this,” says Cr. Kerr.

Councillor Kerr says the Maori leaders hui begun in 1939 under the tutelage of Sir Apirana Ngata and will bring together young Maori men and women from as wide a cross section of the community as possible.

The conference will be promoting leadership skills amongst young Maori and address many of the issues associated with community capacity building.

Cr. Kerr says many of the issues for Maori relating to land use and development, education, governance and justice remain unresolved although there is now a wider range of development possibilities.

Cr. Kerr says that contacts & exchange of ideas between young people who are beginning to assume leadership roles will facilitate the search for solutions and co-operation towards effective future action.

“Our future is assured if future leaders have the tenacity and capability of Harley Sterling-Emery. As a Council and as a Maori Councillor I think it is important that we cultivate and nuture our future leaders in the spirit of community development and well being for us all,” says Cr. Kerr.

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