He Tangata awarded for cultural inclusion and equity gains

He Tangata is our driver licensing support programme where we help whānau overcome barriers to gaining a licence, towards increased independence and wellbeing.

Emani Soane and Te Piki Oranga Tumuaki Anne Hobby with the 2025 Driving Change Cultural Inclusion and Equity trophy awarded to He Tangata.

Under the leadership of driving instructor and Te Piki Oranga kaimahi Emani Soane, He Tangata is also an award-winning programme:

• In May 2025, He Tangata won the ‘Cultural Inclusion and Equity’ category of the Driving Change Network Awards

• In 2023, He Tangata won the ‘Outstanding By Māori for Māori’ category

The Driving Change Network brings together passionate advocates, industry leaders, policy makers and community organisations dedicated to equitable and accessible driver licensing in Aotearoa.

For the awards this year, Emani took up the wero (challenge) to make a video about how He Tangata helps to reduce cultural and systemic barriers to driver licensing success. The video was submitted for the 2025 awards – winning the ‘Cultural Inclusion and Equity’ category.

Unwavering commitment to whānau

Wendy Robertson, National Director of the Driving Change Network, praised Emani for his “incredible mahi”.

“At the heart of it all is Emani’s unwavering commitment to whānau – creating safe, supportive learning spaces where people feel seen, capable, and proud.

“By centring people, culture, and connection, He Tangata is helping build confidence, independence, and equity on our roads, and Emani’s leadership is driving that change forward,” Wendy says.

Emani’s mihi

“I want to acknowledge Ariel, Leah, and Nikorima for being open to share their story on film.

“As kaimahi you can share stories and the experiences, of some the challenges, courageous conversations, the scary moments, the laughs, the not-joyful occasions, and the celebrations inside and outside of the car. But to have that lived experience of whānau sharing their testimony in this way, you can’t beat it.”

Emani also thanks David Edwards (Nelson Tasman Police) and his Te Pae Oranga hoamahi (colleagues) for connecting him with Police videographer, Jen, to make the video.

Tools are the taonga to success

Emani says that plenty of tools are needed to coach whānau through the graduated licence programme –from learner’s, to restricted to full.

“Using kaupapa Māori and Pasifika (Tokelau) is a great way to connect with your whānau in a classroom environment or in the car,” he says.

“I see my role as being like a kaiwhakaako or pule hiva (educator). You’re responsible for getting them to the level to be able to showcase their skills with confidence on ‘kapahaka day’ (test day). When mistakes happen during lessons, kaiwhakaako will either swap seats and demonstrate the correct procedure, or say “ano” – do it again – until the whānau understands the patterns, manoeuvres or safe car handling.”

Emani gives a big ‘thank you’ to all whānau who have graduated from, and who are enrolled with, He Tangata.

“Thank you for helping to design the taonga and tools that we use today in our driving programme.

“Mihi also to all stakeholders, those of you who tautoko Te Piki Oranga and He Tangata. Mihi to our kaimahi who do all the mahi unseen in the background.”

Click here for more information about He Tangata

Watch Emani’s award-winning video

Photo captions:

Top left: Emani receiving the award for He Tangata from Wendy Robertson at the 2025 Driving Change Network awards.

The other photos were taken during the filming of Emani’s video about He Tangata.

He Tangata

By Emani Soane, He Tangata kaitiaki (driving instructor)

For the last two years I have been able to take whānau for their driving lessons in the evenings and during the weekends. I was very fortunate enough last year to get my endorsement to become a qualified driving instructor with the support of Te Piki Oranga and Nelson Police.

Since being involved in our mentoring programme, it has been solely focused on supporting whānau to pass their restricted licence and full licence. Our programme now offers a Road Code Support programme for the learner's licence as part of the He Tangata mentoring programme.

The true strength of our He Tangata driving programme comes from all our whānau who have participated in the programme.

Our lessons have ranged from full of laughter, high blood-pressure moments to the occasional near-accident. We've had a few tangi moments, whānau wanting to walk out, and whānau carrying a lot of mamae.

By using Kaupapa Māori/Pasifika flavour to the lesson, whānau come to an understanding of the road rules when operating the waka, gaining confidence and taking pride in themselves. There is the opening up of employment opportunities for whānau, the privilege of listening to whānau kōrero about their life journey.

We tautoko whānau to access other Te Piki Oranga health services, share kai, walk alongside whānau when test results haven't gone our way and most importantly sharing in the celebration when our whānau pass their test.

Since the start of the year we have had 140 participants (84 Māori, 33 Pasifika, 14 European and 9 ‘unknown’), 191 lessons and 70 tests booked.

I would like to acknowledge all our Te Piki Oranga kaimahi that support our whānau and give them the extra push, encouraging them engage and show up for their lesson. A big thank you to Rachelle our administrator who books tests, orders birth certificates, keeps an eye on my calendar, sorts our referrals and all the background mahi she does.

Driver’s licence the key to shearer’s future

When Te Piki Oranga Kōtuitui Hapori Sonny Alesano arrived at the Nelson Courthouse one day in December, he overheard a conversation. Twenty-four-year-old Jason West had been charged with driving without a licence. Sonny introduced himself, gave his business card to the rangatahi and let him know about Te Piki Oranga’s He Tangata driving programme.

Jason, who works all over the region as a sheep shearer, says, ‘It was such a relief off my shoulders; I was stressing out and didn’t know what to do. Sonny told me he could help me with my licence and I said, “Yep, done, I need that”. It was the good luck I needed.’

In the past, Jason had lost his licence for driving unaccompanied to work on a learner’s permit. He thought the waiting list meant it wasn’t possible to book in for his practical test. Then he was pulled over driving without a licence. ‘It was such a pain, I was stuck in a cycle, flat out. It’s also my hobby, I’m real passionate about cars. When I’m not working, I’m always underneath my car. So to have a car and not be able to drive was devastating.’

Jason passed his restricted driver’s licence test in early January 2021. ‘I’m so stoked, Emani is such a nice person. It’s great, now I don’t have to be worried about being pulled over.’

It also means he can keep his licence. ‘The judge said if I got my licence before the next court date, she wouldn’t take it off me. I still have to pay the fines, because I broke the law, but now I’m able to drive. She gave me the opportunity because there’s a real shortage of shearers in the country; a lot are stuck in Australia because of Covid-19.’

With work all over Te Tauihu, a driver’s licence is essential for Jason’s employment. There isn’t any public transport that will get him to where he needs to go and on time. ‘We start shearing at 7.30am, so wherever I’m coming from, I have to been there by then. And if there’s no work up here, I can now go down to Alexandra.’

Jason says he feels unstoppable now. ‘It’s a real boost in confidence.’

But he believes it wasn’t just his future at stake. ‘I could see that, if I passed, it would encourage the judge to give someone else the same opportunity. If I’d failed to get my licence, maybe she might not have been so lenient with other people in the same situation. I would have tried, regardless, but having the support really helped me mentally. It’s especially great to be able to talk to someone with more life experience, someone other than your parents.’

Jason looks forward to shearing for at least the next five years. Then, he says, he might become a barber, like his mum. ‘I’ll be going from animals to humans,’ he laughs.

Sonny says Jason’s story is not unique.

‘You turn up to court to support someone and you see how many youth are there, and we know there are processes other than the justice system,’ Sonny says. ‘We are looking at how we can support these rangatahi to ensure that court is not the only option for them. Helping them get their driver’s licence is just one. Emani Soane, one of our driving instructors, has done such great work with our young people.’

Sonny says he’s also been working with Pasifika communities, offering learner driver licence courses with Emani.

‘When English is their second language, it can be an additional barrier.We provide support because having a licence gives them more opportunities for other work,’ Sonny says.

Jason and Sonny

Learning to drive, gaining independence

Learning to drive, gaining independence

Ko Maunga Tapu toku maunga.

Ko Maitahi Toku awa.
Ko Aorere toku moana.
Ko Tainui Toku waka.
Ko ngati koata, ngati kuia, ngati toa rangatira oku iwi.
Ko whakatu toku marae.
Ko kakati toku whare tupuna.
Ko Tysxun Aiolupotea toku ingoa.

Kia ora. My name is Tysxun Aiolupotea and I was born and raised in Nelson. I am 19 years old and have lived here my whole life and I am of Samoan Māori descent.

I play basketball for the Nelson Giants and have hopes of becoming a full-time professional athlete. To do this, I have set a range of goals, and try my best to achieve them every day. As a young athlete, I have been blessed with having mentors who support me to achieve my goals. Through basketball, I hope to give back to the younger rangatahi and support them where I can.

Being a young male Māori in Nelson has given me the opportunity to connect with my culture. My iwi are also from this region meaning I have had the privilege to be able to connect with the land, and people.

By gaining my restricted driver licence, I can now drive my car to and from training and work without any hassle. Through Te Piki Oranga’s He Tangata programme, I was able to get the support I needed in order to gain my restricted driver's licence. I just want to say a huge thank you to Emani who mentored me into doing so.

Kia ora.

Read more about He Tangata here.