Opportunity awaits for Napier's youth to sit at council table
The young people of Napier have been given a chance to have their voices heard with spots up for grabs on the youth council.
The Napier Youth Council is looking to recruit up to 10 more motivated and passionate teenagers from a range of backgrounds who love Napier and want to aid the youth.
Together, with the six remaining youth councillors, they will provide a voice and a youth perspective to many council and community projects.
The experience is one the outgoing members can't recommend highly enough.
Chairperson Charlotte Townshend, who is staying on this year, says they all enjoyed working with like-minded people to promote change on a higher level.
Despite the challenges of Covid-19, they were successful in engaging with Napier's youth and increased its following.
Napier Girls' High School graduate Willow Noome believes they "shifted the direction" of the youth council and made it into something "so much more and a lot more fun".
Last year they made a submission to the Annual Plan to ask for more funding for the Youth Development Grants which help local youth achieve their goals and were successful in increasing the total of the grants to $7000.
Willow said this was a "real highlight" for the council members. "We were very pleased to be able to award higher grants to a higher amount of our dedicated and talented youth". Award recipients were recognised at the annual Youth Awards.
The rest of the year consisted of a mental health campaign in which the councillors presented to their schools about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and youth.
Sacred Heart College graduate Ana Worthington says she believes it is important for them to for those in our communities and encourage them to speak up when they are feeling down or struggling.
Youth councillors also set their own goals based on the objectives in Napier City Council's Youth Strategy and their own ideas.
The Youth Strategy Objectives are; Healthy and safe, Leadership, Education, Employment, Community, and Fun. They also give feedback on council consultations if they feel there is a youth perspective they can offer.
For 15-year-old Taradale High School student Marjolaine Stranaghan, the experience has confirmed her desire to study political science. She hopes to continue on the council for two more years until she leaves high school.
"The future does matter and I feel like we all strongly believe that on the youth council and we’re trying to make that change for our future," she said.
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said the youth council is an "absolutely vital part" of how Napier City Council operates.
"They are able to provide input from that youth perspective and we are trying to get them far more involved in the governance side like getting them to attend council and committee meetings alongside what they have traditionally done which has been to organise events and things for our youth."
Wise says last year's council were "absolutely fantastic". "They were all really committed and enthusiastic and energetic and we've had a number of them leave because they are heading off to varsity this year but we do have several of them returning as well which is fantastic."
She strongly encourages the youth of Napier to apply. "I am sure that they will thoroughly enjoy it."
Applications for the 2021 Council close on Friday, January 22. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.napier.govt.nz/napier/youth-services/napier-youth-council/
