At the core of Kydis Watts’ artistic practice is a commitment to community transformation and youth-led innovation. Beyond his studio output and national songwriting accolades, Kydis actively applies his skills as a practitioner, educator, and peer leader. His work bridges modern music technology with traditional Māori sound healing, creating accessible pathways for rangatahi to explore their identity, build resilience, and unlock hidden creative potential.
Peer Mentoring & Technical Pathways at Tipene
Focus: Skill Capability Building, Digital Literacy, and Peer Mentorship
Serving as a student facilitator at Kura Tīpene (St Stephen's School), Kydis leads practical workshops in music production, audio engineering, and sound design.
Navigating Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and audio technology can be a significant barrier for young creatives. Kydis demystifies these technical processes, providing hands-on instruction in arrangement, mixing, and sound manipulation.
Key Outcomes:
Talent Identification: Recognizing and nurturing undiscovered creative abilities in students who have had no prior formal music training.
Confidence & Digital Literacy: Equipping rangatahi with technical skills behind the mixing desk, fostering self-belief and technical independence.
Peer Leadership: Creating an inclusive, supportive environment where youth mentor youth in creative expression.
Hauora & Cultural Preservation: Youth Wānanga with Tūranga Health
Focus: Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer, Taonga Puoro, and Holistic Wellbeing
Extending his impact beyond the classroom, Kydis collaborates with Tūranga Health in Gisborne to design and facilitate multi-day hauora wānanga for teens
A central element of these wānanga is the hand-crafting and playing of kōauau (traditional Māori flutes), giving rangatahi an experiential connection to:
Taonga Puoro & Cultural Continuity: Reconnecting youth with ancestral sound traditions, storytelling, and tikanga.
Sound Therapy & Hauora: Exploring the healing properties of sound, breath control, and frequency as tools for emotional regulation, stress relief, and holistic health.
Whanaungatanga: Establishing safe, culturally grounded spaces for youth from across the region to build strong community networks.
Investment in Sustainable Creative Futures
Whether working in a professional studio or guiding a young person through their first kōauau carving, Kydis’s mission is centered on community uplift and cultural sustainability. By combining technical excellence in audio production with a deep respect for tikanga Māori, he demonstrates how the arts can serve as a catalyst for youth leadership, mental wellbeing, and community development.