Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Youth Affairs
24 August 2007 Media Statement

Sexuality Education for Young New Zealanders

Youth Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta has welcomed the recommendations of the Education Review Office report on Sexuality Education for years 7 to 13.

"A key recommendation is that young people be seen as partners in their own sexual education," said Nanaia Mahuta.

"That's exactly right. Services for young people, especially those dealing with the sexuality, need to be youth friendly. This means they need to involve adolescent and youth health professionals who have the skills to work effectively with young people. And parents need to feel confident that their young people are getting the best advice possible delivered in the best way.

"At the local level a key task is to ensure that all these agencies, and the people working hard within them are in contact and building services youth will actually use. In particular, the one-stop-shop for youth health needs has proved particularly effective at reaching youth who need to get advice on sexuality issues.

"The ERO report provides a good basis for discussion of the issues. All parents, whatever their cultural and ethical background, need to take a dispassionate and supportive view of the genuine efforts being made to support our young people develop healthy and safe attitudes to their own, and others' sexuality.

"This report should be discussed at school boards throughout the country, not because it has all the answers, but because it will help communities find their own answers.

"We still have high levels of sexually transmitted infections, in particular chlamydia, with increasing levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis. We also have a high level of unplanned teenage pregnancy, being ranked third highest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

"Maori are disproportionately represented in negative sexual and reproductive health statistics, including unplanned pregnancy, abortion, chlamydia and cervical cancer. Pacific People also have higher incidences of many of these indicators".

"These are the facts. The ERO report will help communities face these facts and act to provide the help our young people need," said Nanaia Mahuta.

ENDS

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