Programme for young emergency workers extended

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A programme which helps young people participate in emergency services will be extended to six locations after a funding boost.

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced $60,000 in funding for the Youth in Emergency Services (YES) programme.

Ms Kaye said she was impressed with a pilot scheme in Rotorua this year.

The new funding would allow the programme to be extended to Kaikohe, Mangakino/Taupo, Gisborne, Alexandra, Kaikoura, and a second project in Rotorua.

Up to 15 young people in each community will learn from representatives from Civil Defence Emergency Management, fire brigades, ambulance and search and rescue.

"When I visited the graduation ceremony for the pilot programme in Rotorua in April, participants told me they felt more connected to their community and that they had gained skills and knowledge to enable them to help others," Ms Kaye said.

The programme is a collaboration between the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.

It was launched today in Mangakino to mark the start of Get Ready Week, a Civil Defence initiative which runs until 29 September with the theme "know your neighbours, know your community".