Youth | Rangatahi
Youth in Whaingaroa
Whaingaroa has always been a whānau centred community with a focus on relationships, culture and the environment. For youth, the small town vibe increases the sense of connectedness between them as further helps to foster a sense of uniqueness and individuality about the community as a whole. Youth also appreciate that there is a lot of support behind promoting the importance of both culture and the environment with local stories and history underpinning the community identity.
Whaingaroa currently has the potential to provide many opportunities for youth; however, no strategy exists to capitalise on these opportunities to create support systems for the youth population. School leavers often move away from the Whaingaroa township to access education, accommodation or employment if they cannot access in their home town. A rapidly growing community with a big influx of new residents, there is a need to prioritise support for youth in Whaingaroa.
Youth in Waikato and Aotearoa
The Ministry of Youth Development defines youth as young people, aged between 12 – 24 years old.
Current national priorities include: increasing the number of opportunities for youth development; increasing proportion of opportunities targeted to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds; working in partnership with business and philanthropic organisations to jointly invest in shared outcomes; building formal recognition of young people’s community and voluntary participation by recording and valuing.
WDC has committed to engaging youth by integrating young people into our community more and giving them a platform to air their views.
At the moment approx. 1300 youth in Waikato district. Māori make up 24% of the total population in our district and 31% are youth aged between 10 and 24. This makes Māori youth a key group that council wants to make a positive impact on. Creating a district where youth feel valued and engaged in local government matters will encourage youth to stay, potentially retaining social capital. This means that new skills acquired by youth through learning and training would be retained in our district and more people would be proud to continue living in the Waikato.
Raglan Youth 13yrs – 24yrs
NZ Stats 2013 (waiting 2018) : 13yrs – 33people | 14yrs = 21 people | 15-19yrs= 135 people | 20-24yrs = 102 people.
What topics were covered and who has been involved so far:
We appreciate all the work of the Focus Group members
Please note: this Snapshot report is a starting point for community-wide input and is not a finished or complete report. Your input will build on this report.
Topics Covered:
- events
- meet-ups
- funding
- counsellors
- health support
- arts
- environment
- gardens
- sport and recreation
- youth-centred organisations and groups
- places and spaces
- education
- training pathways to education and employment
- Kokiri centre
- culture
- communication platforms
- issues and challenges
Who is contributing to this Snapshot
Youth Focus Group: Rangi Rongo, Grace Mindoro, Jai Debesten, Sahara Leng-Ware, Kaea Ruawai, Awatea Dillon, Charlie Irvin-Thomson, Sven Seddon, Lexie Holmes, Tehiata, Josh, Lisa Thomson, Shannon Kelly, Maree Haworth, Carla Eyre and Jah, Annie Lorenzen, Margaret Dillon, Angeline Greensill, Sasha Kroon, Charlie Irvin, Bex Hollows, Sarah Edwards, Daniel Kereopa and Renee Davenport, Fiona Edwards, Karamea Puriri, Maryann Tuao, Tiaki Coates, Naomi Tuao, Brian Ruawai, Deb King, Fiona Bolden, Maki Nishiyama and Gabrielle Parson (and others).
What/who is missing? Rural Youth, providers/ educators/parents Youth who attend Hamilton/boarding schools-cities, teachers, service providers from Area School, teachers aids-special needs, special needs providers/support groups/Youth. Home School Youth/educators/providers
Youth Services – Suicide / Mental Health and Addiction Services, Education skill based programs 18Yrs+ transition into employment, Teaching young parents 12-16yrs, Youth Hub (computer lab /catering similar to Hamilton Zeal Centre, transport License training, WINZ-study/employment/tax returns, Sexual Health Centre (FP, Ham SH Clinic),Positive Role Models (20-30yrs), Kaumatua’s support youth, Youth Gender ‘Rainbow Youth’, Youth workshops at Area School – Te Ahurei o Rangatahi (hip hop/graffiti art, Intact – suicide, Mental Health, Cultural youth group (Kapa Haka), Waananga skill based training –visit Area School and community house. Budget Advisor with Youth, High Needs(risk) youth work (Carla E.)
Youth Voice/Expression – more sculptures/art installations in public spaces
How can we fill these gaps? (Youth Needs Assessment – Raglan Youth Innovation Project)
Partnership and network opportunities.
Advocate and deliver quality services to young people over longer periods, Youth Services Sector workshops, skill based training.
Promote services, program and projects working with the whanau and Youth in priorities in parenting, drugs, alcohol, relationships and social emotional, wellbeing.
Facilitate a connection between the youth services and education services sector to discuss identified gaps in life’s skills, education and support. Social media of all youth services/providers/events/projects – set up a Youth Trust. Youth HUB /van – connect with other Youth Hubs outside of Raglan ward, workshops, skill based training, youth events.
Partnership with community business and tourism sector – employment.
Youth as a resource within our community and partnership in community projects, sharing resources. Facilitate between the youth services and education services sector – to discuss identified gaps in Youth’s – life’s skills, education and support – budgeting, cooking, cleaning etc.
Partners, organisations, people
Mana whenua, Local youth, Educators and influencers, Service providers, Change makers, Iwi community, Tangata whenua, Local Youth, Raglan Area School, Parents, Educators, service providers, funding bodies, local government, local committees and decision making bodies, local business owners, mentors and influential people, local sports groups and clubs, Karioi Maunga, Chamber, Community House, Arts Organisation and groups, Te Mauri Tau, Raglan Community radio, WEC, Chronicle, Brian and Naomi, Ruth Hare, Patti Mitchley, Natasha Rao, Rick and Liz, Daniel K and Renee, Coastguard, Schools – Te Uku/Te Mata/Waitetuna/RAS, Poutama Tane, West Coast Health, Maraes.
Infrastructure Strengths & Assets
Skills:
A diverse community with a global-village feel, there are many talented individuals in our community that could contribute to the overall outcome of youth development tin Raglan. The youth in the community have a strong awareness of cultural and environmental values.
Places
Whaingaroa’s key asset is the natural environment which creates many opportunities for recreational activity (Papahua, Ngarunui Beach, Manu Bay, Mt Karioi, etc.). We also have a number of venues (YOT Club, Town Hall, Raglan Club, Rock-it, Orca, Scout Room, sport venues – Tennis/Ruby, Gyms, sport groups- yoga, mediation) As well as other places of value like the skate park/camp ground, pump track , BTM track, etc. Kokiri centre
Services
National and regional youth services (Real Waikato, Zeal etc), local counsellors, budgeting, Health, Mental Health, Creative development.
Funding
There are a number of funding organisations that are relevant to Raglan and the Waikato region, specifically (Raglan Community Charitable Trust, Lions Club, Raglan Community Board, WDC, WEL Energy, DIA – Lotteries, Trust Waikato, local business Community Cash Funds) as well as project based and youth-specific funding and support opportunities. (Creative Communities NZ, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Culture and Heritage, Community Matters Org, Ākina, Vodafone, Tainui, Maori Trusts etc.
Current Projects
Youth Reps, Surfside Youth, Poutama Tāne, Leadership Programme -Akaroa, Youth Week, Gateway programme, Star Courses, Council Youth Engagement and Action plan, Sports groups, Karioi Maunga, Te Mauri Tau, Soundsplash, Te Ao Marama, Feed the Kids (Margaret), Maui Dolphin Day, the Arts, School Gala Days, Matariki Celebrations, Recreational and Enviornment Youth Groups, New Year Parade, Christmas In The Park.
Future Challenges & Opportunities
Key challenges that are specific to the Youth group:
For the key challenges that need to be considered across all focus areas, these are the questions we are asking:
The key challenges:
Aspirations & Goals Identified by the Focus Groups with supporting projects, strategies and initiatives.
(Please note that there may be areas that are still to be completed.)
| Values behind the goals & aspirations | Aspirations vision for long term & Goals measurable, specific, achievable |
Strategies Different ways goals can be achieved |
Projects & Initiatives Specific actions, responsibility, funding |
Crossover with other Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future focus, collaboration, creating pathways and opportunities, building capability, learning, empowerment | Creating opportunities for education and employment | Mentoring, internships, MOOC, career expos | Education, Business | |
| Future focus, collaboration, pathways, empowerment, inclusivity, participation | Creating opportunities to engage with the community | ID youth leaders and influencers, mentoring, take the community to the youth, create platforms for them to share their ideas |
Education, local government and planning | |
| Future focus, empowerment, building capability, collaboration, health and safety | Create a space that is specifically for youth | A youth hub, recreation centre for youth, dedicated space for youth to feel safe and unjudged. | Education, local government and planning, business, active recreation, arts | |
| Health and safety, future focus, learning, inclusivity, participation | More support for sports, recreation and adventure. | More opportunities for participation, support for travel outside of Raglan, mentoring, more allowance for bikes and skateboards |
Natural environment, Education, local government and planning, business, active recreation | |
| Access, inclusivity, connection, future focus, health and safety | More connectivity and infrastructure | More footpaths and cycleways, transport options for youth similar to community van for seniors, upgrade infrastructure for safety |
Natural environment, local government and planning, infrastructure transport | |
| Future focus, inclusivity, health and safety | Housing opportunities for youth | Upgrade housing quality, create housing options for youth |
Local government and planning, community wellbeing | |
| Health and safety, learning, access, future focus, empowerment | Health focus | promote active, healthy lifestyle that is holistic, mental health support | Natural Environment Local government and planning, Arts, community wellbeing, active recreation |
Questions from the Youth – Rangatahi Group1. What do youth like about Raglan today?2. What are youth’s happy spaces today?3. What do you youth want in Raglan to meet their present needs in this community?4. What do youth not want to see happen in Raglan, in the present and the near future?5. What do youth want to in the future and the next generations to come in this community, 5 years, 10 years?