Tauranga's traditionally grey-headed council may get a big injection of young blood if Matt Cowley gets his way.
The 32-year-old councillor has offered to mentor young people who were interested in standing for a seat on the council next year.
"I want to mentor my competition at the next election ... I'm looking for people who are highly motivated. They need to have strong connections to the community and a thick skin to withstand public scrutiny."
Technology meant that young people now knew more about what was happening on the other side of the world than in their own back yard, he said.
Cr Cowley would help young candidates understand how the system worked if they got elected.