Tena koutou

Ko Orowhana te maunga te rū nei taku ngākau.

Ko Uwhiroa te awa e mahea nei aku māharahara

Ko Tarara taku Iwi

Nō Herekino ahau

Ko Tony Yuretich taku ingoa

E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe, o Whenuapai e noho nei au

Born in Herekino, our lives were immersed in the waters of Te Tai Tokerau, and I’m grateful for this upbringing. Te taiao gives balance and drives creativity; being in and around the ngahere and moana is still an essential part of my life while informing my mahi.

Taiohi are our future. However, success doesn’t happen in a vacuum, I know that many haven’t had the opportunities I had. My passion is encouraging and supporting taiohi to chase opportunities Aotearoa offers to realise the potential they were born with.

In my twenty years in youth development I have developed and refined programmes to be the vehicles young people need; suiting them, their environments and their ever changing worlds. I weave the best of all the rich diverse worlds we have in the land into the work I do.

I was fortunate during my degree in psychology to have an introduction to Matauranga Māori, a path of learning that has taken me to places I would not have believed fifteen years ago. Training as a Mataora has rekindled the wairua journey I started under the gaze of the Mangamuka Ranges in my childhood. I am guided by the maunga and the whakataukī,“ka mua, ka muri”, walking backwards into the future.

The wind in the leaves

  • "Tony is the man!"

    ..he really knows how to change a person’s life. In school I was a troubled kid, Hated school, was always naughty and wanted to drop out early… He stayed overtime at mahi to help me with my homework which no one else did. He told me to give school another chance, which I did. I ended up finishing school and went to university the next year. Without knowing it back then, this was the guidance i needed to put me on the right track. Because of this I also want to become a mentor in the future to help the next kid who needs this guidance.

    ACER AH CHEE WILSON

  • "...I am thriving in both life and my career"

    Because of his support I not only gained the skills to join the army but also developed the resilience, discipline and leadership qualities that have helped me thrive. His influence didn’t just prepare me for a career it gave me the mindset to push through challenges and make the most of every opportunity. Today I am thriving in both life and my career and I owe a great deal of that to the impact Tony had on me at such a crucial time.

    I highly recommend Tony to anyone looking for a mentor who invest in to their students not just as learners but as people. His ability to support, inspire, support and push people to reach their potential is something I will always be grateful for.

    AROHA MAIDENS

  • "When people say a ray of sunshine, Tony is the definition of that."

    His positive energy is intoxicating, seeing him around school - and just the general knowing of his presence - allows me to take an instant sigh of relief -I know my peers feel this as well. His continual support, backing and boosting of our individual journeys goals and talents is consistently motivating. 

    Without Tony’s guidance, I wouldn’t have the ability to stand up in front of a room of people, let alone a classroom of year 9s. I wouldn’t even believe in the possibility of having that confidence. His teaching approach is a funky mix of open lecture-style conversations and collaborative engaging activities. We take these tactics into our time with the year 9s, allowing us to creatively experiment with new ideas and approaches to learning and leading.

    MAGGIE BURKE, Head Girl, Otamatea High School

  • "He never told me what to do and always, without a doubt, encouraged me to trust myself"

    He never doubted that I could make the right decision and backed what I had to say from day one. He taught me to trust my gut, my voice, my vision and instilled in me that I always had the answer within myself. Managers like that are certainly hard to find. His guidance and support taught me very valuable things from a young age. It is hard to articulate just lucky I was to have a manager/someone who believed in me that much.

    Tony carried a deep dedication to supporting every single one of his employees, he upheld their uniqueness, their gifts, their strengths and encouraged them to apply this to their work every day with freedom. He certainly was a once in a million manager to have.

    HANNAH BROWN

  • "This encouragement helped my youth get the best out of me as well as fulfilling my dreams. "

    I worked with Tony for approximately 4 years. During this time, his role was as my manager, supervisor and in many ways a mentor. In all seasons, he was both encouraging and challenging, being honest when it was needed. He provided support when needed, yet pushed me to fulfil my potential, seeing the best in me even before I could see it.

    ALYSSA CARR

  • "...gave me a space to grow, learn from others, and understand what it truly means to lead by example."

    Being part of this taught me a lot about the qualities that make an effective leader. Through group activities with my peers and younger students, I learned how important communication, responsibility, and empathy are when working with others. I gained confidence in speaking up, actively listening, and encouraging my peers, which helped build trust and teamwork.

    LUKE WEBER, Prefect, Otamatea High School

He Whanonga Pono

  • Mārama – Understanding

    Ka mua, ka muri -walking backwards into the future. By weaving the artefacts of our culture with context we add to our identity, informing change where it is needed and acceptance where it is not. Mā te mātau, ka ora, through knowledge comes life and well-being.

  • Aronga – Purpose

    I am tangata tiriti and fortunate to live in Aotearoa; this place and this mahi grounds me. Whether we find purpose in our work, hobbies or whānau; having a calling is the foundation for a contented life and for resilience in the face of the challenges life brings.

  • Hapori - Community

    Community brings social capital, identity and the protective factors we all need. When we are connected to others we feel supported in our journeys; when we move forward in our community we are both sustained while feeding others.  

  • Matatau - Mastery

    Meaning to draw a long breath, pūmanawa is also defined as the talent passed down through our whakapapa. When pursuing mastery we find our purpose, strength, self-belief and identity. Our world needs us to be at our best to be the best place for all.