29 April 2004
Teen West 2004 – ‘For Youth, By Youth’
Blindspott, dance party, sports challenge, Hydroslides, interactive workshops - all feature as part of the FREE
celebrations for teenagers during NZAAHD’s Youth Week 2004 – Teen West 2004: For Youth, By Youth.
International Youth Week is being celebrated from 3rd to 9th of May, and once again Waitakere City Council is getting
behind the celebration of our youth by funding and supporting a range of free events and activities around Waitakere.
Teen West 2004 has been put together by the Waitakere Secondary Schools Youth Council in partnership with the YMCA Raise
Up & Represent youth team. Te Roopu Puawai o Waitakere and Sport Waitakere are also supporting the event. This enthusiastic
team of young people are enjoying planning the event and hope that teenagers from around the City will come along and
join in the fun.
Teen West 2004 includes an Inter School All Star Sports Challenge on Friday 7 May from 8pm till 10pm, and the Teens Up
Westiez Beats FREE dance party on Saturday 8 May from 8pm till 11pm. Blindspott will be making a guest appearance for a
signing session at the dance party, and will be MC’d by Fletch from The Edge radio station. Both events are at the
Massey Leisure Centre. There’ll be heaps of prizes & giveaways with all the latest music - best of all it’s all free!
“This is an opportunity to celebrate teenagers in Waitakere City, where nearly a third of the population is under 25.
It’s about celebrating being young and having fun in a safe environment that is drug, alcohol and drug free,” says the
YMCA’s Shona Ballinger, Youth Development Manager.
In addition to Teen West 2004, the YMCA’s Raise Up & Represent youth team have also put together a line-up of fantastic activities, workshops and fitness promotions to run
during Youth Week. The week’s activities incorporate the principles of the YMCA’s Raise Up n Represent, a programme
designed to give youth a safe and healthy environment in which to relax, socialise and achieve. “The aim is to support
youth being physically fit, to encourage personal ownership and leadership, and to foster a sense of pride and respect
for themselves, and the communities in which they live,” says Ms Ballinger.
YMCA Raise Up & Represent activities include; A Youth Fitness Promo at the Massey Leisure Centre from 3-8 May for 14-18 years, with a
draw to win one year’s free membership. Free Youthline workshops will be held at the New Lynn Community Centre on 5 May
from 4.30-6.00pm and Massey Leisure Centre on 6 May from 4-5.30.
And down at West Wave Aquatic Centre, there are free hydroslide rides for all student and children entry’s during the
week.
There are a variety of other activities and workshops on around Waitakere City during Youth Week. For a full listing of
Teen West event details, check out the Waitakere City Council website or the official Youth Week website
www.youthweek.co.nz .
ENDS