Whangerei is an awesome place to live. And for reasons that you may not have thought of. We look after our young people, and make sure they have the support they need to succeed in life. Young people in Whangarei are a credit to the wider community, and it's important that Whangarei as a whole recognise this fact.
This month, the latest addition to the youth "toolbox", the Whangarei Youth Space, opened. What's unique about this project is that it has young people being a part of the process from the top down, and also the bottom up. Youth Trustees, aged 18-24, will make strategic decisions about the long-term direction and about where to allocate funds, while a youth steering group will set out what sort of cool activities actually happen in the space on a day-to-day basis.
However, the Whangarei Youth Space is only one such organisation which provides services to young people. Many others around the district play a role in ensuring our youth have opportunities in their lives: of particular note are Octane Youth Health, the WDC Youth Advisory Group, the RAID Movement, youth groups such as Baptist, Dragons Den, Te Ora Hou and Northtec, among others.
Whangarei is and always has been a place where the community looks after its own. And it's important to remember this as we move forward. Young people are not a problem that need to be solved, but a unique piece of society's puzzle.
One of the most recognisable times for young people is Youth Week. The theme for Youth Week 2014, which runs from May 17-25, is "Be the Change". Young people have an incredible amount to contribute. They make up 17.5 per cent of the Whangarei District's population. Make sure that you give them every opportunity to succeed in life, to make their voices heard, and to see their actions making a difference to their peers.
