Rotorua youth councillors selected for 2014 term

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick has announced the appointment of 17 young local people as Rotorua District Youth Councillors for the 2014 term.

Mrs Chadwick said the new team would begin their year on the Youth Council next month, initially spending a weekend together undertaking a comprehensive training and induction programme.

They will learn about local government, their responsibilities as young leaders and youth representatives, getting involved in community activities and contributing to the future direction of the district.

“Rotorua has recently elected a young district councillor who herself is a former member of our Youth Council. From her time as a youth councillor Tania Tapsell has developed an interest in governance and community leadership,” said Mrs Chadwick. “Tania will therefore be a model for the new intake of youth councillors who will hopefully look at her example and see where their new roles could potentially lead them.

“Tania has been appointed to play a lead in developing the youth component of our council’s new People Strategy and she will be keen to ensure our youth councillors have input into the development of that key strategic programme.

“She and other previous youth councillors are also looking forward to assisting and working with this year’s Youth Council team and helping them to develop their leadership skills.

“The voices and views of our young people have to be heard if we are to build the sort of Rotorua we all want for all of our community in the future. So I’m especially keen to ensure that our youth councillors are given real opportunity to contribute towards achieving our Rotorua 2030 vision and goals, and our 2016 priorities. They are our future and they must have a say in how we shape tomorrow’s Rotorua,” said Mrs Chadwick.

The 2014 Rotorua Youth Council members are:
Reade Nikora, Lucy Blackmore, Phoebe Johnston, Alex Miller, Ashley Hilson, Jenny Kim, Kuratea Broughton and Sylvia Song (all Western Heights High School); Rebecca Wathne, Page Bushett, Ngahaki Gardiner and Emma Jackson, (Rotorua Lakes High School); Timothy Bradley and Louise Woolhouse, (John Paul College); Emily Cooper and Ada Te Kaawa (Rotorua Girls High School); and Caroline Winters (Reporoa College).

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