Businesswoman Tasmyn Roach was proud to represent The Prince’s Trust Aotearoa at King Charles III’s coronation. Photo Awhi Company
Proud Ngāti Maniapoto wahine Tasmyn Roach hopes her presence at the coronation of King Charles III will inspire other young people to grab opportunities with both hands.
The Awhi Company owner was one of eight young people from around the world to represent The Prince’s Trust inside Westminster Abbey at the weekend.
Tasmyn started her business making baby blankets with the vision of ensuring pēpi were wrapped in te ao Māori and stood strong in their identity from birth.
She sought extra education through The Prince’s Trust Aotearoa’s enterprise programme soon after having her son, Kahika, last year.
That opened the door for Tasmyn to apply for funding from the trust’s $2 million seed fund He Kākano, from which she secured $20,000 to accelerate the growth of her business.
“I never would have guessed that opportunity would lead to me, my partner and my baby flying across the world, and myself attending the coronation,” she said.
The Prince’s Trust Aotearoa CEO Rod Baxter said there was a long list of bright young entrepreneurs who could have been selected to attend the coronation.
It was a combination of Tasmyn’s success in the trust’s enterprise programmes, her character, personality and her success with Awhi Company that made her the best candidate.
“We recognised that Tasmyn is a role model, she is an incredibly gracious, humble and articulate young woman.”
One of Rod’s personal highlights from the event was chaperoning Tasmyn close to the door of Westminster Abbey (he wasn’t personally invited inside) and meeting her international Prince’s Trust counterparts, from Kenya, Barbados, Nigeria, Jordan, India, Canada and Australia.
“Connecting with them and seeing Tasmyn’s excitement at the magnitude of the opportunity was probably my highlight.
“His Majesty’s wishes were that the coronation events – that’s including the service at Westminster Abbey but also everything else around it – reflect the diversity of not just the United Kingdom, and not just the Commonwealth, but actually the whole world.”
Coronation day for Tasmyn started at about 4.30am.
After getting ready with the support of her mum and her partner, she was escorted to the threshold of Westminster Abbey.
Tasmyn said she took the time once inside with her peers to observe the beauty of the church, the size of the organs, the sounds of the orchestra, and the people who entered.
“We were just buzzing.”
The Prince’s Trust was set up by then-Prince Charles in 1976, founded in the belief that every young person should have the chance to succeed.
More than one million people have been supported by the trust internationally since.
Tasmyn said one of the king’s wishes for the coronation was that young people be present in the abbey.
“That was really special to feel included, and it just shows what type of person he is – that it’s important to him.”
During her time in London, Tasmyn brushed shoulders with many notable people from New Zealand and abroad, including Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VIII, Richie McCaw and even British magician Dynamo.
But she said she learned from the experience that she was more interested in having a genuine conversation with them on a personal level, than in being a fan.
“It was just really important for me to have a memory, have a conversation; a photo doesn’t matter as much.
“How did you connect with that person? What kind of feeling did you leave with?”
When watching King Charles and Queen Camilla enter the abbey, Tasmyn said her mind was full of questions:
“Seeing King Charles and Camilla walking in, just knowing how much expectation and the weight of the world is on their shoulders, and how hard it must be for one person to attend all these events.
“I want to know how they slept last night, or what they had for breakfast, and if they were nervous.”
Following the coronation, Tasmyn was invited to join the Kiingitanga for lunch.
“They welcomed my whānau into the manaakitanga and aroha that they had shown. It was just really cool.”
Kīngi Tūheitia and King Charles exchanged gifts before the coronation in a meeting described as having mutual respect and aroha.
The Kiingitanga presented the British monarch with the Order of King Pōtatau Te Wherowhero in the Supreme Class – the highest honour in the Kiingitanga Royal Orders, reserved exclusively for monarchs – and Queen Camilla with the Order of Queen Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu in the First Class.
Also gifted was the Te Wherowhero tartan and a mere pounamu, named He Kura Pounamu.
The pounamu symbolises “a prized treasure, a long relationship, and an enduring friendship,” according to the Kiingitanga’s Facebook page.
Tasmyn knew her decision to attend the coronation as a young wahine Māori could stir up questions, given the mamae and trauma caused by colonisation.
“It’s very controversial. But I see it as an opportunity to really unite our people,” she said.
“I feel proud that I’ve come, and I’ve represented our people. I stand strong in my Māoritanga from Ngāti Maniapoto.
“You can turn these things down, but I said nah. I’m going to hold myself, carry my tūpuna and my mana with me and represent where I’m from and who I am.”
She said it was her upbringing and key people around her, including schoolteachers, Dede Downs and her grandad, Bill Millar, who gave her the opportunity to succeed.
For example, Bill would take Tasmyn in his taxi and get her to sing to his passengers.
And at 12 years old, she travelled to Centennial Park School regularly to give the students dance lessons.
It was with hindsight that she realised the small opportunities built her character, not one huge pivotal moment.
“It might seem insignificant but take these opportunities as they come,” Tasmyn said.
“I didn’t know any different back then, but those people gave me opportunities to learn and to grow.”
