Big moment for young Kiwis
There are only a handful of Kiwis who can say they’ve met the Queen — even fewer who have met Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
But now Ezekiel Raui, 20, of Te Rarawa, can put his hand up on both counts.
Raui, originally from Taheke in the Hokianga, was honoured alongside fellow Kiwi Alexia Hilbertidou, 19, with a Queen’s Young Leader’s Award at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Currently studying business at Massey University in Auckland, Raui was chosen for his work in encouraging Ma¯ ori men to take up leadership positions and to talk more openly about mental health issues.
Speaking to the Herald from London, Raui said the palace was “breathtaking” and his private audience with the Duke and Duchess was “phenomenal and more importantly, energising”.
He said the pair came across as “very genuine, down to earth and engaging”. The Duke admired Raui’s korowai, calling it his “pick for outfit of the ceremony”.
The Queen also enquired about Raui’s cloak. He explained to her that it is traditional Ma¯ ori attire; his belongs to his family “and is a reminder that no matter how far from
home I am they will always be there to support me”.
The Duke and Duchess shared that they are excited about their trip to New Zealand later in the year.
The Duchess also asked Raui about his key takeaway thought from the experience so far. He responded by recalling a quote from Secretary General Patricia Scotland, “that our role as Queen’s Young Leaders was to put the “wealth back in Commonwealth”.
Raui and Hilbertidou were two of 240 Commonwealth youth honoured for helping find solutions to global issues. They will take part in a yearlong University of Cambridge leadership course, pay a visit to 10 Downing St and train with the BBC and Facebook in the UK.