The Weekend Sun
15
Hip hop help for developing teenagers From graffiti and youth development to standing for parliament – for Tauranga’s hip hop activist Jayson Gardiner it is all linked to a focus on making a difference at the grassroots.
Mana Party, but his full attention has returned to helping the area’s youth. During the last 16 years, the hip hop leader has been sharing his knowledge with youth to foster their potential. Initially, he was helping at the frontline for The Ark and Atomic youth centres by teaching the four elements of the hip hop movement – graffiti, break dancing, MCing and rapping.
Last year, Jayson’s focus moved to running his own youth programme Jam Sessions with partner and singer Hera Tamati (who performs under the name MC Nytmare). The pair – each authorities in their own areas of hip hop (Nytmare has toured extensively During the last two months, overseas) – run the programme Jayson – who runs youth developtogether, along with pursuing ment programme Jam Sessions their own fields and raising a – has been campaigning for the family of five. When setting up Jam Sessions they chose to focus beyond the hip hop art forms to extend beyond the creative skills into more work-based skills. “With the graffiti I also teach them how to run that into graphic design and photoshop, colour correction, videography, editing videos – we take the rudiments of whatever that element is and apply it where we can,” says Jayson. They are also taught how to apply those skills in a commercial environment – including how to do marketing, tender for contracts and put together proposals. After developing the skills Jayson Making Jam (centre clockwise): Jayson Gardiner, Jerome Namana, encourages them to tender for Jordan Palmer, Tautoko Matehaere, MC Nytmare (Hera Tamati), Pat jobs – like a recent contract with Gardiner, Shaayd Taikato and Kahotapu Black. a jewellery company where they
Lions just one exciting feature Paradise Valley Springs is a beautiful wildlife park and a wonderful place for everyone these holidays.
On top of the beautiful scenery that surrounds it, one of the main attractions is the two young lion cubs that visitors can get to pat and interact with. The cub encounter is free with every entry ticket and there is also a Lion Feeding show with the adult Lions at 2.30pm every day. The lions are only part of the attraction though. Guests get to see wild trout in natural streams, plus trout in spring pools as well as New Zealand’s wild animals during the walk around. There is birdlife in a walk-through Kea aviary and water bird wetland. There are farm animals and an elevated treetops walkway through centuries-old native bush. Trout and animal food can be purchased from reception. Paradise Valley Springs is open every day from 8am. Last entry 5pm. The park remains open till dark.
produced the ad from scripted concept to finished product. Then they got paid. “If there is a contract and if they want to tender for it I pretty much support them by giving them the resources and skills they need.” Jayson is happy with the results he is seeing – with many students going on to other creative fields such as car painting, signwriting and photography. The programme focuses on teaching graffiti as an art form, which has also
helped reduce tagging across Tauranga during the last year says council graffiti prevention officer Jane Denton. “It’s given the kids who have had an interest in graffiti an opportunity to learn about it as an art form rather then going out and doing it on the street.” The programme is funded by Ngaiterangi iwi. For more details email jayse_gardiner@yahoo.co.nz By Hamish Carter