Media Release

22 October 2008

Manukau Mayor enters the ring

Manukau Mayor Len Brown is entering the ring with boxers David Tua, Shane Cameron and Monty Betham as well as Tawera Nikau, Stacey Jones, Inga Tuigamala, Tea Ropati and Neil Waka.

Fortunately they’re all on the same side – a fight to help Manukau youth reach their full potential.

Papatoetoe’s prodigal son, Len Brown, fought for his own life this year and his personal battle has re-focused his mayoralty, the first anniversary of which was 13 October.

The mayor, and former lawyer, is helping local sporting legends argue the case for the at-risk youth within their community.

“The Regency Youth Pride initiative deserves widespread community support and I’m calling on local businesses to get in behind the programme through sponsorship.

“Manukau City Council is proud to provide a platform for Tea Ropati and his team at the launch tomorrow [23 October],” the mayor says.

The Manukau pilot is the first stage of a nationwide rollout of the programme.

Sponsored by Regency Duty Free, the first 30 participants will complete their first workshop and mentoring sessions later this month, and the response to date is a big thumbs-up for the project which:

·         Is a community-based, out-of-school initiative to support, motivate, inform and guide young people in their journey to adulthood.

·         Is designed to complement other development support they may be receiving, including school.

·         Targets urban youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years with a particular focus on Maori and Pacific young people.

·         Aims for participants to produce and implement life plans and to work with mentors on an ongoing basis. 

·         Promotes positive role models for Maori and Pacific youth in Manukau. 

·         Aims to involve 500 young people over three years.

·         Delivers workshops and mentoring sessions specifically tailored to youth which address their social, cultural and personal career aspirations. Through the workshops and mentoring sessions, knowledge, skills, information, tools and resources are provided to the young people and their families.

ENDS

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