Year 13 student Sally Pope-Martin said training in financial literacy was lacking. She would leave school at the end of this year but had no idea about paying rent, credit cards or interest charges. She also called for a wider range of subjects at the college.
William Hohepa, 17, urged an overhaul of the NCEA system, which he said awarded unit standards for activities such as possum hunting at the expense of core school subjects, and called for stronger action against students smoking at school.
He wanted the college to host regular guest speakers, especially Maori high achievers, to help inspire him and his schoolmates to succeed.
Tamatoa Makiha, 17, was concerned about the TPP and a proposal to change the national flag, and whether either had repercussions for the Treaty of Waitangi.
At the end of the discussion, Ms Kaye committed to coming back in six weeks.
In the meantime, she asked them to come up with ideas for a financial literacy course and she would bring information about schools which had already set up "speaking clubs" in which an inspirational speaker visited every few months.
She could also help put the students in touch with suitable speakers. She said Northland had no shortage of inspirational people, among them Kaitaia GP Lance O'Sullivan, who she had met the previous day.
She promised to talk to the principal about smoking at school.
Ms Kaye said the students showed a lot of spirit and passion in the discussion. "It gives me hope for the future."
