ZOE REISS
Some people leave a lasting impact on the next generation — youth workers among them.
The Nelson Tasman Youth Worker Awards 2025 honoured eight outstanding youth workers who have shown exceptional dedication to the well-being and development of young people across the region.
Among those recognised were Tamanui Uerata and Logan Blake, both youth workers at Motueka Community Development Trust.
Logan has been in the role for the past 18 months, after previously working as a tradesman.
He says his personal journey led him to work with children and youth.
“The reason why I chose to be a youth worker is because going back to the age of seven, or even at the age of one and a half, I witnessed something that traumatised me,” Logan says.
“I have lived with post-traumatic stress disorder for my whole life because of it, and I fought with that feeling for so long.”
At just seven years old, Logan says, he attempted to take his own life.
“I woke up on the ground and realised I didn’t want to do that. The only reason I wanted to do it was because I was just hurting so much, and I wanted it to end. But then, at that moment, I wanted to help other people who were just like me.”
He says he wore a mask until he was 28, hiding everything from those around him. It wasn’t until a close friend took his own life that Logan began to confront his past.
“I almost highlighted the catalyst event of what happens after it, because I watched it, and that could have been me and everyone around me.”
That moment helped him begin to understand himself and the trauma he had carried.
“All the trauma and all your experiences do affect you as you grow up.”
Logan and his co-worker Isaac London opened a youth development space in the Motueka Rec Centre — a small room with a couch, a couple of computers and a PS5.
Today, they operate out of a two-bedroom house with a double garage, a full music studio, pool table and gaming consoles.
Logan says he loves his job because it allows him to help others who feel lost and lack support or guidance.
Also recognised at the awards was Tamanui Uerata, managing team leader at Motueka Community Development Trust.
He has worked in the youth space for a year and says he always makes time for the kids, despite the admin and paperwork.
“Being in my position, we get to look at creating and implementing different types of programmes. So being able to work for the kids, I think, is pretty cool,” Tamanui says.
“I enjoy coaching people. So I operate as a personal trainer, as a life coach, and as a netball coach as well. Within those roles, I get to see people develop and grow.
“Now, working in the youth space, we get to do the same thing. But when you work with them in their youth stage, you’ll obviously be influencing how they’re going to be in the future. So for me, that’s really exciting.”
He says the work is about showing young people that there are other ways to live.
“If we can show them another way of life outside of a game. They might be them at home, but when they come to us, they say, actually, I don’t have to be a gangster.
“I don’t have to walk around so tough all the time, I don’t have to bully people just to get my own way. I can just actually get my own way just by simply being kind to someone, and that might be what we teach them, but that can actually change their whole future.”
Outside of his role as manager, Tamanui also works as a barber and tattoo artist.
“When you do something you really love, you actually don’t feel like you work a day of your life.”
