Civic award to youth leader
Tama Bucknell has been awarded the 2018 Civic Award by CHB District Council.
The head of Epic Ministries was presented with the award by CHB Mayor Alex Walker at a ceremony at the CHB Municipal Theatre last week, acknowledging his many years of dedicated youth development work in the district.
Born and raised in Porirua then Palmerston North, Bucknell was immersed in the culture and experience of serving his community as the son of a local Family Services Organisation leader.
After working in a mirror factory, he completed his teaching degree at Massey, and moved to Central Hawke’s Bay as a primary school teacher before working at Camp David Adventure Centre. Through these roles, he recognised the frustration of many young people illequipped for traditional learning, and realised foundational work could be achieved using a holistic, strength-based approach, which would help young people increase their mana and maximise latent potential.
After sharing his vision with interested church leaders, in 2004 the St Andrew’s Charitable Youth Trust (Epic Ministries) was formed and he was tasked with the role of developing and managing a youth-work structure to support the young people of Central Hawke’s Bay. This was achieved with the support of his wife Miriam, enabling and resourcing professional youth workers who are accessible to youth in the community.
The Council said Bucknell lived by example and had opened his heart and home to those requiring his assistance and support.
“He is encouraged by the youth coming to him to share their successes, and helps them understand and value the learning opportunities for what they are. Tama has wisdom when it comes to youth work, which he shares to inspire and help grow other organisations in our community and further afield.”
Bucknell said the award was “humbling”.
“I have always considered youth work to be a privilege, to be able to journey alongside young people and respect and honour each individual we encounter and look for the strengths that they bring to community.
“So an award that recognises that this work has added value to the lives we have encountered, is very humbling to receive,” he said.