Editorial: Mentorship programme a step in right direction

Andrew Austin, Editor Hawke's Bay Today.

On the face of it, the announcement by acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley yesterday of a $50,000 youth leadership and mentoring programme to steer Hawke's Bay youth from gang life is good news.

The programme, funded by the Ministry of Youth Development, will provide opportunities for at least 20 local young people with known gang connections to make a positive contribution to their communities. Who would not be supportive of such initiatives to give our youngsters the opportunity to get away from gang culture.

The only problem is the small amount of money - in the grand scheme of things $50,000 is not very much - and the small number of people (20) who will be targeted.

The cynical among us could say that it is merely a token gesture aimed at giving the impression that the Government is doing something about the gang culture that pervades our province. Some would even go as far to say that if you remove 20, another 20 will simply take their place in the gangs.

However, one does not want to be negative about an initiative, which even if it is limited, could do wonders for the lives of the people chosen. it is also good to see the Government focusing on the Bay, instead of us missing out as has happened in the past.

Mrs Tolley says the programme will be designed and delivered in partnership with local community groups. It also follows on from an announcement she made in March that $1.1 million of MSD funding would be used to pilot community programmes in the Bay of Plenty and on the East Coast. These were aimed at helping partners and children overcome negative gang influences and lead more successful lives.

"The Hawke's Bay youth-focused programme will complement these pilots, and supports the goal of breaking the cycle of intergenerational gang life and welfare dependence," she said.

Who can argue with that so, as a broad principle this is a good thing, but more is needed.