Youth on the road to independence

Dannevirke teenagers, Xena Waitere, 17, who is about to go for her learner's driver's licence and Fairlane Bristowe-Chase, 17, who has her learner's licence and working towards her restricted, with Jeanne O'Brien, manager of Tararua Community Youth Services. Photo / Christine McKay

For 17-year-old Fairlane Bristowe-Chase, getting her learner driver licence means everything.

"I'm head over heels, this is mean as," she told the Dannevirke News.

Fairlane is working towards getting her restricted licence, supported by the youth workers at Tararua Community Youth Services.

"Getting my licence will make it easier to apply for jobs, but I wouldn't have been able to get my licence without help from the youth service people. I didn't think I'd make it, and yes, the test was hard but Jeanne [O'Brien] had given me the road code and helped me to study."

Xena Waitere, 17, is also reliant on help from the community youth services.

"Youth workers have been helping me study for my NCEA Level 2 and now they'll help me to get through my licence," she said. "It will make me independent."