From fighting to writing: Finding strength from within
Published: February 26, 2026
The moment one rangatahi from Ōpōtiki realised he could show his strength through his inner voice was the moment he began to turn his life around.
Josh* was used to being the tough guy, fighting to gain respect.
But with the support of whānau and those at Te Tōtara Learning Programme, he began to understand he didn’t have to fight to prove who he was.
The programme helped him move toward a better path for his future.
Josh’s emotional and behavioral progress meant he was able to return to school, the first young person in Ōpōtiki to do so after being excluded.
Now he’s finished school and is working at a local panel beater, something that previously hadn’t seemed possible.
This story is an example of what’s possible when whānau, community, and agencies work together to support positive change.
*Name changed for privacy.
Te Tōtara Programme
Josh entered Te Tōtara Programme (Oranga Rangatahi) after long-term behavioural and anger-management challenges led to his exclusion from mainstream schooling.
The programme focuses on prevention and empowerment. It began in January 2020 and is delivered by Oranga Tamariki in partnership with iwi social services, Police, and local schools.
Rangatahi assessed as being at risk of offending receive targeted support to overcome barriers to wellbeing, re-engage with education, and connect with cultural and community activities that build strength.
Participation is voluntary, and referrals often come from Police.
By identifying risk factors and building on strengths, the programme prioritises trust, relationships, and whānau involvement. All of which help create lasting change.
Marker of success
A major milestone for Josh was his reinstatement hearing at school.
Supported by whānau and agencies, he showed up with honesty and accountability about his actions of the past.
Following the hearing, Josh was back in the classroom. A first for an excluded student in Ōpōtiki.
In a creative writing piece that gained him NCEA credits, Josh wrote about his ability to change.
Read some of Josh's story 'The Turning Point' here:
Now that I’m back at school, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance, and I don’t want to waste it. I’m here for the right reasons this time — to learn, to do better, and to show everyone, including myself, that I can grow from my mistakes.
When I look back, I know most of those fights could have been solved with words, not violence. If I hadn’t come back, I think I’d always feel lost and full of regret.
This whole experience has taught me that making mistakes doesn’t make you a bad person. What matters most is whether you learn from them and use them to become someone better.
I firmly believe that I’ve changed for the better from my time at Te Tōtara - being able to stand up for my peers and uplift them while I was there, supporting my friends at the gym and in other parts of our time at Te Tōtara.
Josh
Positive change
Those involved with the programme said Josh’s progress has been extraordinary.
He maintained 100 per cent attendance, demonstrated stronger emotional regulation, reduced conflict behaviours, and rebuilt healthy relationships with his peers.
He’s also seen positive improvements in his schooling, built leadership capabilities within the programme, and came out of it with a job at the local panel beaters, ready to embark on his next chapter.
Josh’s story is a true testament that Oranga Rangatahi works because communities work together. His success shows just how powerful that can be.