Rangatahi Panel Announced for Endangered Species Hui

The Endangered Species National Hui is proud to announce an exciting new addition to its 2026 programme: Te Ao Rangatahi | The Future Through a Youth Lens, a panel bringing together three inspiring young leaders already shaping the future of biodiversity restoration, community leadership and youth engagement across Aotearoa New Zealand.

From music and wellbeing to native forests and marine science, the session will explore how we can empower more rangatahi to have a voice, participate in democracy, and help build a thriving future for people and nature.

If the future was in the hands of rangatahi, what would it look like? That's the question at the heart of this year's youth panel, which brings together:

Tessa Thomson (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga), a marine ecologist who combines mātauranga Māori with western science to restore taonga species and coastal ecosystems. Her research into the disappearance of toheroa from the Horowhenua coastline highlights the importance of working alongside iwi to restore both biodiversity and cultural connections to place.

Jonny MacKenzie, known online as Cool Native Tree Man, has built a passionate community by sharing the wonder of Aotearoa New Zealand's native ngahere. Beyond social media, he's inspiring young people to step into the bush, reconnect with nature and discover the stories, species and ecosystems that make our forests extraordinary.

Rosalie Norton-Lehali, founder of Mindbox, a platform supporting rangatahi wellbeing, and the artist behind Pacific pop project Lehali. Through music, creativity and advocacy, she encourages young people to embrace their identity, build confidence and use their voices to create change.

Together, these three changemakers will tackle some big questions: If they were in charge, what would they do differently? How do we encourage more young people to vote, participate and lead? What gives them hope, and what kind of future do they want to create for people and nature?

Join us for an honest, inspiring conversation that puts rangatahi perspectives at the heart of restoring thriving ecosystems and communities.

WHAT: Endangered Species National Hui

WHEN: 2–3 September 2026

WHERE: The Atrium, Wintec, Kirikiriroa | Hamilton

Programme & Tickets

Thank you to our awesome friends at Seed Waikato for supporting our rangatahi engagement!