Island Base FM has had the privilege of working alongside rangatahi at Mahurangi College in Warkworth across multiple music programmes, creating spaces where young people can explore music, build new skills and, most importantly, have fun creating together.
Our first visit to Mahurangi College introduced rangatahi to the world of music, performance and music video production. The programme gave participants the opportunity to get creative in front of and behind the camera, working together to bring their ideas to life. Across the programme, the rangatahi created three music videos — “Summer Vacation,” “I Love the Islands” and “Everybody!” — developing their confidence, creativity and teamwork along the way.
These first projects were about more than simply making music videos. Rangatahi were encouraged to experiment, collaborate and express themselves, while getting hands-on experience with the different parts of the creative process. From developing ideas and performing to filming and putting the final pieces together, the programme showed just how much can be achieved when young people are given the opportunity and support to create.
Island Base returned to Mahurangi College during the winter school holidays for a second programme, bringing together a larger group of rangatahi, including both returning participants and young people joining the programme for the first time. Over two days, mentors Jason Eli and Simon Abela worked alongside the group to create something completely new.
This time, the focus was on creating an original song collectively — from the very beginning. The rangatahi built the beat from scratch, experimenting with the drum line, bass, keys and guitar before developing the lyrics, vocals and overall sound of the track. Vocalists Betty and Ataeua brought the song to life, with Betty also adding harmonies.
The result was “Crystal Reef” by Mahu Pacific — the first Island Base song made entirely from scratch by the rangatahi themselves. It was a huge achievement and a reflection of what can happen when young people are given the tools, mentorship and creative freedom to shape something of their own.
The programme was also about building relationships and creating pathways for rangatahi beyond the sessions themselves. Betty was awarded a 16-hour Island Base Masterclass scholarship, giving her the opportunity to continue developing her musical skills with further mentoring from Simon Abela.
Across both visits, the Mahurangi programmes have demonstrated the power of music as a way to connect, collaborate and build confidence. What began with a group of rangatahi creating music videos grew into a larger collective project where young people were able to write, produce, record and perform an original song together.
Island Base is proud to have supported rangatahi at Mahurangi College to explore their creativity, learn new skills and see their ideas become real pieces of music.
A huge mihi to Lottery Grants Aotearoa, Foundation North, Mahurangi Hope Community Trust and Mahurangi College for helping make these programmes possible, and to mentors Jason Eli and Simon Abela for sharing their knowledge, encouragement and passion with the rangatahi.
From Summer Vacation to Crystal Reef, these projects are a reminder that when rangatahi are given the space to create, they can make something truly special.
