Hip-hop star King Kapisi launches Youth Week with free workshop | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

There's a lot of wasted talent in Rotorua. I'd like to help them get to where they want to be. King KapisiYouth Week 2010 got off to an artistic start in Rotorua with a free workshop led by hip-hop star King Kapisi.

The Samoan artist was at the Rotorua Arts Village on Saturday for a two-hour appearance which included a "how to make beats" workshop and a few songs.

It was a free, open-invitation event for the youth of Rotorua and their families. King Kapisi said he was rapt to be able pass on his knowledge and experience to young people.

"There was no one to do that for me when I was first starting out," he said. "There's a lot of wasted talent in Rotorua. I'd like to help them get to where they want to be."

Alongside King Kapisi's workshop were an array of activities designed to help young people showcase their creative skills, including Samoan tattoo design, ta moko design, jewellery making, turn-tabling and hip-hop dancing.

Manager of the Rotorua Arts Village (Rave), Grace Hoet, said it was a day for youth to have a go at arts and crafts they wouldn't normally have the opportunity to try. "We'd like to open the doors up to younger people," she said.

Youth Week is focused on people aged 12 to 24 and aims to create a society that values young people and affirms their diversity.

Each year during Youth Week there are events organised by young people and those who work with young people, aimed at getting young people involved and getting them to have their say, influence opinion, showcase their creativity and talent, share ideas, access information and have fun.

This year's Youth Week theme is based on the whakatauki (Maori proverb) "He tina ki runga, he tamore ki raro", meaning "contentment above, strongly rooted below", challenging families to strengthen their relationships with their teenagers.