Transcript
Wesley Mauafu has been recognised for his notable work advocating for Pasifika youth in the area of wellbeing and suicide prevention. The 2016 OECD report says New Zealand has the highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world. And Maori and Pacific males in New Zealand have the highest suicide rate of any ethnicity. Wesley hopes to encourage the Pasifika youth to help combat this trend, says with this award he feels empowered to do so.
The suicide prevention stuff and the wellbeing stuff just came from a passion for wanting to see my Pasifika community thrive, like planting the seed within them to want to make changes in their lives to empower other people.
Wesley was honoured to receive the New Zealand Youth Champion Award, but says this wasn't his main drive for serving the community.
When you're working for your community or whatever community you're doing it for, all these young people doing these things are very passionate with what they do and you don't really do it for recognition. You're kind of doing it for whatever purpose you are doing it for. Specifically my purpose is just trying to empower our Pasifika people.
The Canterbury student is currently studying for a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours. University of Canterbury Pacific Development Team Leader Riki Welsh is overwhelmed that Wesley was recognised for his hard work and leadership.
We are super proud... proud of Wesley, but actually proud of the fact that we have been able to honour Wesley by nominating him for this award and honestly since he's been here, he's been a role model, a worker, a volunteer, a casual, a staff member, everything you can think of helping us in our jobs.
Wesley also supports Pasifika youth engage with parliamentary matters with the Pacific Youth Leadership and Transformation Council in Christchurch. The Council Chair Josiah Tualamali'i says the Pasifika community can often get overlooked, especially in Canterbury.
It gives me heaps of hope and so much pride, you know, seeing Wes be recognised in a national award ceremony is saying that Pasifika have something to contribute to not just our own community, but to the wellbeing and to the rest of our society.
Josiah Tualamali'i says for young Pacific students not only to want to serve their community, but to also have a strong interest in suicide prevention is remarkable. Wesley Mauafu was one of 50 recipients who were recognised and celebrated for their passion, success and commitment of young people to bring about change in New Zealand.
