New Tokona te Raki tool kit empowers rangatahi to lead future innovation

A significant initiative for rangatahi development is reaching classrooms across Aotearoa as Christchurch-based social innovation lab Tokona te Raki launches a new educational resource. The project, titled Mō Āpōpō Future Makers, aims to equip the younger generation with the skills and confidence necessary to navigate and influence the years ahead. On Friday 24 July 2026, RNZ’s Afternoons programme highlighted the rollout of the initiative, which will see the new tool kits distributed to 500 classrooms nationwide. The project is led by Alice Dimond, who serves as the project lead for Mō Āpōpō Future Makers. The initiative is designed to empower young people to become active participants in shaping their communities and the wider world. According to the RNZ report, the focus of the Tokona te Raki initiative is to encourage rangatahi to prepare for the future by providing them with practical tools for social innovation. By placing these resources directly into schools, the project seeks to foster a generation of thinkers and leaders who feel capable of addressing future challenges through a lens of local leadership and innovation. Tokona te Raki, which operates out of Christchurch, has long been focused on systemic change and equity. The introduction of the Mō Āpōpō tool kit represents a tangible extension of that mission into the national education system, ensuring that 500 groups of students have the opportunity to engage with forward-thinking strategies and community-led problem solving. The launch coincided with other major national events, such as the opening of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where David Liti led the New Zealand team as flagbearer.