Inviting youth to the Council table – Councillors welcome new members to our Youth Rōpū to have their say about how we deliver services in Canterbury/Waitaha.

Last week we welcomed new members Taylor Bentley-Eddington, Zoe Croot, Gareth Kearins and Mazaiah Isaako Tualato to our Youth Rōpū through a special mihi whakatau. 

Alongside seven other new members and eight returning members, they’ll make up our body of 14 to 24-year-olds that give input into our decisions and help young people in the region to share their views and join in with our work.

Seeking out the youth voice

We deliver many services important to tamariki and rangatahi such as public transport, climate resilience, and environmental protection. Our Councillors want to make it as straightforward as possible for young people to engage in local decision making.

Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Chair Peter Scott believes that youth have an important role in council decisions.

“Their networks are wider and quicker and are therefore very useful in getting some of that social feedback. We pay attention to the young people who sit at our table, and for them, it’s a good pathway to wider opportunities in local or central government.”

Alongside the Youth Rōpū, we also invite young people to join our work through youth representatives on our water zone committees, our Enviroschool Programme and special events like planting days.