Youth bands together for political song

Kiri Gilbert (in black jacket) takes his song out on to the streets of Wairoa.

The youth of Wairoa have found a way to make their voices heard through the noise of the amalgamation debate - music.

In 24 hours, a small group of anti-amalgamation supporters banded together, penned a song titled Say No and filmed a music video - in a bid to start a discussion with young people about the issue.

It all began when 27-year-old Kiri Gilbert and his mate 25-year-old Zach Stark were working on some other songs last Sunday "and we just started freestyling about amalgamation".

"We just put a few chords together and then it just popped up really quick, and before you know it we had a song," said Kiri.

He said during the process he received a phone call from people who were coming into town wanting to get involved in the song.

"People from the Wairoa Against Amalgamation page - they just wanted to get involved and put ideas into the song.

"We have just finished doing a music video to it ."

Music is no stranger to political debate - think Midnight Oil from across the ditch - and the youth up north have made this medium their own in this debate.

Why? "Because Wairoa is our identity," said Kiri.

"I just really think that our council has done a great job.

"It's our Wairoa Council I am a big believer in supporting our people and our people supporting us because I don't really believe in people who don't live here [governing us]."

Kiri has also used the song to communicate to the youth what amalgamation is all about.

"Back in the day I would have just thought 'what is amalgamation?' Oh it doesn't matter because I haven't been told anything about it, or if I have been told about it was probably in big words that I don't understand.

"I know heaps of young people who have got a short attention span so you have got to get them within that first 15 seconds otherwise they are lost and they wont do anything about it."

Kiri said he then takes the opportunity to answer their questions and explain the issue to them.

"I tell them it's about us merging with other towns, about being governed by one council for the whole of Hawke's Bay.

"They tell me they don't want that to happen - and I explain that is why you have got to say no bro and go to the council get your vote in. It has been working."

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little makes an appearance on the track. He said he was approached to do so by Kiri and his friends who wanted to talk about this issue in their way.

He said: "They asked me to be part of their song and I was a bit apprehensive, because I have no musical bone in my body. But when I hear this final piece, I am just so proud, so rapt, that our creative and talented young people want to get involved and this song is their message to us all.

"They have some serious concerns about this proposal for Wairoa and for Hawke's Bay."

Listen to the song below: