REAPs explore Coast

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Almost 100 representatives from all around New Zealand have spent the past few days on the West Coast for the REAP Aotearoa national conference.

The conference was co-hosted by BullerREAP and WestREAP, with delegates being united under the theme ‘community, connection and culture’.

Among the representatives were rural education leaders and community advocates whose aim was to shine a light on the challenges and opportunities within small communities.

The conference also focused on honouring people and leading with integrity in rural education. Starting with a welcome led by local iwi at Arahura Marae, the delegates engaged in activities such as strategic conversations and cultural activities throughout the week.

They also visited important tourist sites on the Coast, such as the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and the Pounamu Pathway Mawhera Pa.

Rik Soderlund, the newlyappointed WestREAP chief executive, said: “WestREAP is showing that rural communities aren’t behind, they are leading”.

He went on to talk about the REAP conference, saying “this wasn’t just a conference, it was a statement of what’s possible when we engage in place-based leadership”.

A trio of speakers also took the stage to talk about important issues at the event: Chris Cole, Callum McKirdy, and Liz Gregory.

Ms Cole went to the conference to advocate for neurodiversity representation, Mr McKirdy to talk about workplace culture, and Ms Gregory as a representative for the Gloriavale Leavers Trust.

They spoke alongside community practitioners and REAP leaders from across New Zealand.

The conference closed yesterday with a meeting held at Pounamu Pathway.