Coromandel teen selected for national leadership programme
Published on 09 March 2026
Coromandel Area School student Keeli James-Murray is TCDC's first recipient into the Tuia Programme.
Capturing the past of his people and ensuring it lives on in future generations is something 18-year-old Keeli James-Murray holds close to his heart.
Keeli, a student at Coromandel Area School, has been selected by Thames-Coromandel District Council as its first recipient into a national rangatahi leadership programme.
The Tuia Programme is part of our Council’s Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs initiative and offers an intentional, long-term and intergenerational approach to develop leadership of young Māori throughout New Zealand.
Keeli (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Whanaunga, Waikato and Ngāti Porou) volunteers his time to help tutor traditional disciplines Mau Rākau and kapa haka while also enjoying the practice himself.
Sharing this knowledge is important, he says.
“Educating rangatahi Māori in their own mātauranga [understanding] means providing a base for youth to thrive in the āhuru mowai [warmth and comfort] of their own world, while being able to walk in the modern day,” Keeli says.
“As our kaumātua pass on, our paepae [orator’s bench] run dry, our ātea [public forum] stays empty, and we stay unknowing of what to do on our own marae. If our kaumātua are gone and our youth don’t know, what will we do?”
The 18-year-old will be regularly mentored one-on-one by Te Tara o Te Ika Māori ward Councillor Michael Barlow.
Te Tara o Te Ika Māori ward Councillor Michael Barlow.
Selected students are expected to record a 100-hour community service project in their local community, providing them with an opportunity to share their experiences, practice new strategies and demonstrate leadership.
Cr Barlow says he hopes the programme will strengthen Keeli’s confidence, sense of identity and connection to his role as a young Māori contributing to his community.
“As our first TCDC rangatahi in the programme, Keeli helps open the door for others to follow, showing that rangatahi Māori belong in these spaces.
“I want him to come away feeling supported, valued and inspired to give back to his whānau and hapori [community] in ways that matter to him.”
Cr Barlow says he sees real value in how the programme honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and nurtures confidence and connection for young Māori.
For Keeli, leadership is about being able to do better for everyone.
“Leadership is what you do, what you think and what you say,” he says.
“You can have leaders who are out there to line their own pockets, or you can have leaders who are out there building papa kainga [homes] and mara kai [garden], making things happen in their communities. Those are leaders to me.”
Keeli says being selected for the programme is “pretty humbling”, but he is looking forward to taking what he learns and putting it to use to help local rangatahi.
Keeli and Cr Barlow will attend at least four wananga throughout the year and will engage in local issues. The two will explore local government and civic leadership while also better understanding growing up as a young Māori in our communities.
The Tuia Programme has been running since 2011.
There are now more than 40 councils across New Zealand supporting rangatahi to take part in this leadership programme. More information can be found here: The Tuia Programme | Mayors Taskforce for Jobs