Three rangatahi in west Auckland are doing their bit in the fight against COVID-10.
Meet New Zealand's youngest COVID-19 vaccinators - 16-year-old Tyme Harema-Watts, 17-year-old Breeze Harema-Watts and 18-year-old Te Amokura Hepi.
These rangatahi are doing something extraordinary. After volunteering at Te Whānau O Waipareira vaccination centre during lockdown they were inspired to step up.
"We were kind of like, 'oh, can we learn how to vaccinate as well', because we learned everything else as well so we're like may as well start that too," Te Amokura said.
They got the support of the Trust and their parents.
"My first one was our boss, I was more scared than her," Tyme said.
"My first vaccination was my mum, it was her booster," Breeze said.
"I think because we had heaps of medical support as well and everyone was supervising us, it was really cool actually."
It wasn't long before they were running their own youth vax events and took over the Trust's social media accounts.
"I think for younger people getting vaccinated I think it's good for them to see someone of their own age, and being Māori, felt more comfortable with rangatahi being there with them and vaccinating them," Breeze said.
They've now administered so many doses they've lost count. They say they have given over 1000 doses each.
Tyme now wants to study to become a doctor.
"Being in the medical field was always in the back of my head but I wasn't too sure, so being around it and seeing it happen every day and then actually getting to do it, actually helped a lot," she said.
Rangatahi looking after the health of rangatahi and the whole community.
"We were kind of like, 'oh, can we learn how to vaccinate as well', because we learned everything else as well so we're like may as well start that too," Te Amokura said.
They got the support of the Trust and their parents.
"My first one was our boss, I was more scared than her," Tyme said.
"My first vaccination was my mum, it was her booster," Breeze said.
"I think because we had heaps of medical support as well and everyone was supervising us, it was really cool actually."
It wasn't long before they were running their own youth vax events and took over the Trust's social media accounts.
"I think for younger people getting vaccinated I think it's good for them to see someone of their own age, and being Māori, felt more comfortable with rangatahi being there with them and vaccinating them," Breeze said.
They've now administered so many doses they've lost count. They say they have given over 1000 doses each.
Tyme now wants to study to become a doctor.
"Being in the medical field was always in the back of my head but I wasn't too sure, so being around it and seeing it happen every day and then actually getting to do it, actually helped a lot," she said.
Rangatahi looking after the health of rangatahi and the whole community.
