Manukau’s youth council elected

Twenty two civic-minded youth have been confirmed as Manukau’s Youth Council after an election held on Monday 26 April.

Council members are aged from 16 to 24 years. They will sit for a term of one year. The successful candidates are:

Botany
Tommy Long, 16, Dannemora (elected unopposed)

Pakuranga
Elaine Cavanagh, 18, Pakuranga (elected unopposed)
Ben Dowdle, 16, Half Moon Bay (elected unopposed)
Dhruv Divekar, 16, Bucklands Beach (elected unopposed)

Howick
Rebecca Chaplin, 17, Howick
Gabriel Goh, 20, Northpark
Katrina Lynch, 22, Highland Park

Mangere
Kirstie Lomu, 19, Mangere
Charles Piutau, 19, Mangere
William Po'ese, 17, Mangere
O'Rdriana Schaumkel, 16, Mangere

Manurewa
Flora Apulu, 19, Weymouth Beach
Adeleina Lotu-Meleisea, 18, Manurewa
Jennifer-Lee Pritchard, 20, Totara Heights
Tay Simati, 20, Manurewa
Faith Sola, 21, Manurewa

Otara
Leia Tapu, 22, Otara
Michael Tapu, 24, Otara
Anna Zhang, 18, Clover Park

Papatoetoe
Te Wai Barbarich, 20, Papatoetoe
Danielle Faalolo, 21, Papatoetoe
Krish Naidu, 24, Papatoetoe

There were no nominations from Clevedon and one vacancy for the Botany area. The new council will deal with how to attract representation from these wards.

Manukau City Council’s youth planner, Rex Hewitt, says there was an excellent choice of candidates. “We have an excellent youth council made up of enthusiastic young people who have different skills and perspectives. It will be exciting to see what projects and issues they will get their teeth into.”

The first meeting of the youth council will be on 12 May and will involve Manukau’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The Manukau Youth Council will act as a bridge between the council and its youth by engaging young people. The youth council will advocate for youth, advise the council on issues and concerns of young people, provide feedback on the council’s policies and services, and assist the council to facilitate events for youth.

ENDS

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