MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 20 May, 2002
Setting up regular roundtable discussions and an information system matching young people's needs with participation
opportunities in Christchurch are among proposals being considered by the City Council to give the region's young people
a stronger voice.
The proposals, to be further developed with input from youth organisations and young people, follow a recommendation by
the Council's Community and Leisure Committee to replace the current Christchurch Youth Council with a more effective
youth participation scheme which can involve more young people. "We want to increase youth input, not lessen it," says
Robyn Moore, the Christchurch City Council Youth Advocate.
"The structural difficulties that have been experienced over the last few years with the current Youth Council system,
have resulted in the Council looking at other ways to give youth in the city a strong voice and encourage more effective
youth participation," she says.
"We have more than 70,000 young people to draw on in the city. These proposals will allow greater representation of
youth from the region to be involved.
" Youth roundtables would give Council staff and elected members the chance to touch base with young people around the
city to get feedback about specific issues and how life is for them in the city.
Also proposed is the establishment of an independent youth body, supported by the Council, to provide a strong youth
voice in the city. A decision about whether to disestablish the current Christchurch Youth Council will be made at the
full Council meeting on Thursday 23 May.
ENDS