Joint Media Release: Ministry of Youth Development and Manukau City Council
26 September 2006

Funding boost for innovative council youth project

Manukau City Council has won government funding for a series of events specifically aimed at youth in Mangere.

Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the successful recipients of the Ministry of Youth Development's annual Youth Development Partnership Fund (YDPF) at the Youth in Local Government Conference in New Plymouth.

“I’m delighted to congratulate Manukau City Council, whose project is among those to win funding. I am excited that the Ministry is able to support this initiative, which will involve, challenge and encourage local young people,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

Fund recipients include councils stretching from the far north to the heart of the south, covering rural, metropolitan and provincial communities, with funding totalling $681,700. Manukau City Council will receive a grant of $41,000.

The grant will be used for 10 events and 10 forums over the next year to be organised in conjunction with Mangere Pride. The events will focus on peer mentoring, relationship building, and youth leadership, and will cater for those aged between 13 and 20 years.

Mayor of Manukau Sir Barry Curtis says that the grant is a welcome boost that will help the council and Mangere Pride cater specifically for the city’s youth.

“Manukau is a young city, with 42% of our population under the age of 25. The work of Mangere Pride and other groups in our community in engaging with our young population is crucial if the city is to continue to grow and succeed. These events and forums will help to celebrate what youth are achieving and ensure that the city has strong community leaders in years to come.”

Nanaia Mahuta said the Fund's theme of education, training and employment aligned with the priorities set by the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs. "The selected projects offer a huge range of opportunities, through activities which support enterprise, learning, leadership, participation, and development of resources for young people.”

"The fund reflects the fact that councils not only need to develop projects which address the needs of young people in their communities, but that they also need to be innovative and inclusive in their approach if they are to truly engage with young people and keep them involved and enthusiastic.

A key objective of the YDPF is to attract and encourage young people to get involved in their communities, through inventive, youth-friendly projects that teach valuable work, life and learning skills.

ENDS

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