Meet Aarthi Candadai – BLAKE Inspire 2025 student and Westpac scholarship recipient

Aarthi is a 18-year-old high school student from Wellington with big dreams for an Aotearoa where all voices can be heard. As a natural connector with the tools to create platforms (in her case, podcasts) – Aarthi explains how the idea for her action plan came about, along with some general thoughts from a week she’ll never forget.

What were some of your key takeaways following BLAKE Inspire for students? 

BLAKE Inspire was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had, it really shifted the way I think about leadership and environmental action. One of the biggest things I took away is that we all bring different strengths to the table, and that’s something to be celebrated. You don’t have to be the loudest voice or the most confident speaker to make an impact. We’re all lifelong learners, and part of being a good leader is knowing when to lean on others, when to listen, and how to bring people along with you. It reminded me that change doesn’t happen alone, it happens in community, in kōrero, and in collaboration.

What was your action plan, and how did the idea come about? 

The idea for my action plan actually came during one of our bush walks at BLAKE Inspire. Whaea Leigh was speaking to us about indigenous environmental practices and the deep connection Māori have with te taiao. It really got me thinking, how many other cultures also have sustainable practices and knowledge systems that we rarely hear about in mainstream environmental spaces? That moment sparked something for me. I realised there’s so much wisdom within ethnic and migrant communities that goes untapped, simply because we don’t create the platforms to listen. So my action plan became about finding ways to amplify those voices, particularly rangatahi from diverse backgrounds, and exploring how we can weave their cultural knowledge into climate leadership.

What is the status of your action plan? 
Currently, we are in the final planning stages! I’ve been working with the podcast team I’m part of (Voice of Aroha), and they’ve just launched a Youth Leaders Programme for ethnic rangatahi based in Wellington. I’m hoping to integrate the action plan into this programme so that participants not only develop leadership skills, but also explore how they can apply those skills to environmental and climate-related kaupapa. So far, the response has been really positive, there’s been lots of interest and support from our community and networks. My hope is that the final podcast will be published before the end of Term 3!

Why do you think it’s important for young New Zealander’s to have opportunities like attending BLAKE Inspire?

BLAKE Inspire reminded me that being a kaitiaki, a guardian of our environment, isn’t a role that sits on the shoulders of just one person. It’s something we all share, and collective action is where real change happens. This is our planet, and we’re the generation that will inherit it, along with the responsibility to protect it for those who come after us. What I loved about the programme was realising that I’m not alone. There are so many young people across Aotearoa who are passionate about making a difference, and BLAKE Inspire creates the space for us to connect, grow, and feel supported in that journey. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by climate issues, but being in that environment reminded me that we can lean on each other, and that change is possible when we work together.

Any thoughts or additional comments?
I’m really grateful to have been part of BLAKE Inspire, it was such an awesome experience. Massive thanks to Westpac for the financial support, and to the whole BLAKE team for all the knowledge and inspiration. They didn’t just inspire the leaders of tomorrow, they inspired us as the leaders of today. It was a strong reminder of how much potential rangatahi have when we’re trusted and given the chance to lead.