TE HŌNONGA
A student-led journey to experience Waitangi first-hand
Each year, a small group of students travels north to spend time at Waitangi, the place where our nation’s founding promises were first made. Guided by values of service, cultural understanding, and active citizenship, they engage in learning, reflection, and hands-on community contribution.
This programme began in 2023 when Year 13 student Ari Taylor designed and led the first hīkoi from his school turning a personal conviction into a powerful learning opportunity now offered annually at his school.
About te hīkoi ki Waitangi
More than a trip — it’s a transformative journey
This is not a typical school excursion. Te Hīkoi ki Waitangi is a four-day student-led experience designed to foster empathy, leadership, and deep cultural awareness. Participants attend commemorations at Waitangi, meet local leaders, and contribute through acts of service.
Motivated to give back in his final year of school, and with encouragement to find his own form of leadership, Ari built a programme from scratch that is now offered each year, shaping future students long after he’s gone.
1. Prepare
- Learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the significance of the site, and how to serve with humility and respect.
- Build group rapport, reflect on expectations, and hear from previous participants.
2. The journey
What happens on the hīkoi
- Participate in the pōwhiri at Te Tii Marae
- Participate in the Waitangi Dawn Service, karakia, waiata, readings, and speeches.
- Watch the flag-raising ceremony and the waka hourua arrive
- Work alongside the hau kāinga (the local marae community), rubbish collection, kai preparation, car parking.
- Attend talks, exhibitions, and kōrero with political, iwi, and community leaders.
- Share kai and stories with rangatahi from across the motu.
3. Reflect & Act
- Share learnings with peers, write reflections, and present to others.
- Stay involved through ongoing Treaty learning or mentoring future hīkoi participants.
What makes it different?
It’s student-led > Ari didn’t wait for someone else to create this, he researched, pitched, planned, and led the programme himself, with support from mentors and community partners.
It’s built to last > What began as a one-off trip has become an annual experience. Ari created a model that others can now follow, including suggested itineraries, contacts, and learning resources.
It’s rooted in values > The hīkoi reflects values of service, integrity, reconciliation, and empathy. helping young people grow into thoughtful leaders who understand the past and want to shape a better future.
“I began this student leadership programme because I believe that understanding our past is essential to creating a better future. When students experience Waitangi firsthand, something transforms in their perspective that classroom learning alone can’t achieve.”—Founder, Te hīkoi ki Waitangi
“Waitangi was a great and very complete experience for me… I felt a sense of unity and community on the grounds, and a longing for it throughout New Zealand.”
“It was uncomfortable at first because I realised how little I knew. But the dawn service showed me the beauty of shared humanity, and deepened my desire to understand our country’s foundations.”
“I had a brief understanding of the knowledge of Waitangi , but going to Waitangi opened my eyes to the true depths of what really happened.
“I now feel like I need to help change things for the better in this country. Waitangi helped me see that our history is something we should be proud of, but also something we must keep improving.”
About the founder
Leadership, vision, and commitment to change
“Ari Taylor has showed great initiative, spirit, and leadership in, not only leading the first Hikoi ki Waitangi in 2025, but also introducing this as part of the Saint Kentigern College programmes.
As a result of Ari’s work, students in years to come will benefit from the experience of being at Waitangi for Waitangi Day and understanding in new and different ways what this day and the Te Tiriti o Waitangi means for our country and for them as individuals. This aligns directly to our College mission to develop students who will live life with a vision and passion of service of others.”
—Duncan McQueen, Associate Principal, Director of Campus Life & Special Character, Saint Kentigern College
“Ari is a young leader who role models initiative, responsibility, and a deep commitment to service. In February, Ari took the initiative to organize a haerenga (trip) for a group of his peers to experience Waitangi Day at Waitangi.
His proactive approach not only helped other young people experience the power of giving back through service but also allowed them to engage meaningfully with locals in the community and learn more about the
bi‑cultural story of Aotearoa.
Ari showed organizational skills in coordinating logistics, securing volunteer opportunities, and ensuring the trip ran smoothly. He led by example, volunteering for the hardest job himself while encouraging his peers to contribute positively to what was needed.
His leadership qualities, maturity, and ability to inspire others make him a standout individual with a bright future ahead.”
—Ben Kirkpatrick, Community leader and volunteer supervisor
Founder’s reflection
As a student leader in my final year of high school, I felt a strong responsibility to give back, not just to my peers, but to the wider community I’m part of.
In previous years, I had travelled to Waitangi with my family, including through a community organisation called Karuwhā Trust. These visits changed the way I understood Aotearoa New Zealand. They helped me see that history isn’t just about the past, it’s about how we live, lead, and relate to one another today. I returned with a new sense of empathy and a deeper interest in how we build fairer systems and more inclusive societies.
That’s what led me to create Te Hīkoi ki Waitangi , a four-day, student-led experience that brings young people to Waitangi to learn, reflect, and serve. I designed the programme from the ground up: working with community organisations, coordinating logistics, planning, gathering qualitative feedback and securing support to make it a lasting part of school life.
For me, this project was about more than just one trip. It was about starting something that would live on, that would give other students the opportunity to connect with New Zealand’s founding values and reckon honestly with our shared past.
I plan to study politics at College, and this experience and those leading to it, have deeply shaped my perspective on leadership and public life. Te Hīkoi ki Waitangi reminded me that meaningful change starts with listening, with showing up, and with helping others do the same. I’ve only just scratched the surface and have so much more to learn, but I’m pleased to have started.
If you’re part of a school and would like to run something similar, I’d be glad to help. Please get in touch.
Ari Taylor
Founder, Te Hīkoi ki Waitangi
Saint Kentigern College
Bring this to your school
Interested in creating a hīkoi in your own community?
Ari (Founder) is happy to share what he’s learned to help you get started.
Email him at ari@hikoi.org.nz
