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RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Teen urges Kiwi youth to tackle climate-fuelled food poverty
Joel Titus visited Malaita in the Solomon Islands in December 2024 as a World Vision New Zealand youth ambassador. Photo: Supplied A young Kiwi Indian is urging young New Zealanders to rise up against the dual threats of climate change and food poverty, calling it a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent youth-led action. The 19-year-old from Palmerston North toured schools across Aotearoa to inspire young people to join World Vision New Zealand's 40-Hour Challenge, which raised funds to support children in the Pacific, especially in climate-vulnerable nations such as the Solomon Islands. World Vision New Zealand is a Christian charity organization dedicated to tackling poverty and injustice, especially for children and communities in need. "It's such a big problem," Titus said. "It's not a political crisis but a humanitarian one and at its heart, it affects people, especially women and children." Titus volunteered this year for 40 hours at Everybody Eats in Onehunga, an Auckland-based charity that transforms rescued food into three-course meals on a pay-what-you-can basis. Together with the team, he helped cook more than 2000 meals to address the issue of food poverty in Auckland while also raising funds to address the issue in Solomon Islands. "Food is such a vital part of Indian culture and, for me, it's a way to connect with people," he said. "So, I really wanted my challenge to be around food this year." Titus has long been involved in the 40-Hour Challenge. "Even one year, my twin brother and I were tied to each other for 40 hours," he said. "So, I've done some pretty crazy challenges in the past." Joel Titus' family hails from Kerala, India. Photo: Supplied In December 2024, Titus travelled to the Solomon Islands as a World Vision youth ambassador and witnessed firsthand how climate change was endangering children's futures. "The people there are so incredible," Titus said. He said limited access to clean water and food had brought many young lives to a standstill, with 1 in 6 children in the Pacific living in poverty. "That statistic stuck with me," he said. "But numbers never tell the whole story - it was only when I met the children behind those numbers that it truly hit me." Since returning from his trip, he shared their stories across New Zealand, speaking at more than 40 schools and reaching thousands of students with a message that they too could make a difference. "As a youth ambassador, my role is about equipping young people with the tools to truly change the world," he said. Born and raised in Palmerston North, Titus' family is originally from Kerala, India. Now based in Auckland, Titus is pursuing a degree in biology and health at Auckland University of Technology, but he still holds tight to his roots. "I just love being Indian - being brown is my superpower," he said. "I wear a mundu or sherwani to work sometimes, because knowing who you are gives you a kind of strength," he said, referring to examples of traditional Indian clothing. "Growing up in New Zealand, people might say things that make you doubt yourself, but I want young people to know that being different is powerful." Titus is calling on young Kiwi Indians to rise up and be part of the solution. "We're not just dairy owners or accountants," he said. "We are leaders, we are policy makers and we are change makers. We're everything we want to be. And I want to encourage young Indians to believe in that."
NZ Herald
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Tauranga artist, model Hannah Cross selected as finalist in Miss Universe New Zealand 2025
'Once you leave high school ... all of these amazing opportunities for performing arts, they actually just kind of disappear because you get thrust into the adult life.' When she found pageanting in Auckland, she found a way to blend her love of getting involved in the community and 'be on stage again and perform'. Cross entered her first pageant - Miss Auckland - last year and came second runner-up. It was an 'incredible experience' - she raised money for charity I Am Hope through a paint and sip event and volunteered at schools and Everybody Eats - a charity which provides free meals. She said it felt 'amazing' and 'fulfilling' to give back. Becoming a Miss Universe New Zealand finalist Cross finished her degree at the University of Auckland, moved back to Tauranga at the end of last year and was 'living a quiet artist life'. In late February/early March, Cross was asked by Miss Universe New Zealand if she wanted to be involved. Cross said she initially felt a bit sceptical as she had planned on taking a break because it was 'such a full-on world'. Cross said the director had seen her work with Miss Auckland and her modelling photoshoots and collaborations with brands, which she had done for the past three years. 'Being in Tauranga again and being around my family and my friends ... I thought, why not? I can use this platform to promote my beautiful Mount Maunganui and also be really proud of where I come from ... and put that on the world stage.' Cross was confirmed as a finalist in the 2025 pageant. Between now and the final in June, Cross was planning and hosting charity fundraisers, including a 'pink-themed' art auction for the Breast Cancer Foundation, which she would be including some of her work in. She was also 'jumping for cancer' - a skydiving initiative by the Cancer Society. Cross said she would do photo shoots, rehearsals, and attend other pageanting events in Auckland. 'Incredible' opportunities She said it was 'widely accepted' that 'you have to be pretty in order to be successful' in the pageanting world. Cross said this was not true as self-confidence, a positive mindset, personality, technique, poise, and grace were all part of it. 'What's also really amazing about pageantry now and how it's evolved is it's able to use a platform to raise money and build awareness for charities ... ' 'It encourages other young women as well to really see their place in their community and go, 'Well, where can I help?'' Cross said she had some 'incredible' opportunities resulting from pageanting - she had worked with well-known brands and was walking in New Zealand Fashion Week this year. 'It's been so great for my modelling career.' One of her biggest goals was to win Miss Universe New Zealand, as she would love to put her artwork 'out there' on a global scale. Another was to have her own fashion designer brand, as she was already designing clothes, including her national costume for Miss Universe. Cross also planned to enter the World of Wearable Art competition in the near future. Rotorua came second in the Miss Tourism Worldwide pageant.
