Youth Council
Kaikōura Youth Council are an awesome group of young people making a difference to the Kaikōura community. They have been active in Kaikōura for a number of years and meet regularly after school at Te Hā o Mātauranga - Learning in Kaikōura to work on youth issues, organise events and bring Kaikōura's youth together.
Some regular events include youth blasts, games nights, Easter egg hunts at Easter time, movie nights and more!
Kaikōura Youth putting their best foot forward (April 2019)
Two of Kaikōura’s youth have been selected to take part in some awesome life and learning experiences!
Noah Bentley, Kaikōura Youth Council (KYC) member, has received a scholarship to attend a 21 day Mind, Body, Soul course at Outward Bound in April which has a focus on helping teens build the independence and leadership qualities to make the most of their final school years and take on the new challenges with confidence and self-belief.
Petra Jellyman previous KYC Chairperson, has been selected to attend the United Nations Youth Declaration in Auckland in April, participating in the Social Development Roopu where she will help shape a declaration from the Youth of NZ that goes to all MP’s and Government Departments.
As well as this, ten members of KYC will be attending the annual #Activate – South Island Youth Connect in early April. This is an action packed weekend of trainings, workshops, team bonding and fun! Youth will come home with an expanded skill set after attending multiple workshops and sessions with inspiring speakers.
It’s great to see our rangatahi taking up leadership experiences and making the most of what opportunities are out there. KYC are also about to open up a small contestable funding round for Kaikōura Youth to apply for funds to lead opportunities for youth. Email YouthCouncil@kaikoura.govt.nz to find out more or apply online here.
Plans, strategies and partnership
Kaikōura Youth Council's vision statement is:
Kaikōura Youth are optimistic, confident and make valued contributions.
Kaikōura Youth Council's code of conduct is:
Encompassing values of fun, respect, integrity, participation, outgoing, teamwork, cooperation, communication.
These values have agreed and signed by members of KYC.
Kaikōura Youth Council members are involved in a number of groups and initiatives that ensure youth voice is represented in the community, and when it comes to decision making.
KYC have represented youth on the following groups (not limited to):
- Kaikōura Community Pool Working Group (KCPWG)
- Responsible Camping Working Group (RCWG)
- Creative Communities Funding Committee
- Consultation and ideas on Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance
You can see all of Kaikōura Youth Council's reports in the agenda for Council's monthly meeting.
Past updates
Kaikōura Youth Council currently have 20 members attending meetings. These youth are aged 10 to 16, all attend Kaikōura High School and provide the views of approximately 10% of high school aged students in Kaikōura.
KYC survey all the Kaikōura High School students at least twice per year to obtain wider youth views and offer opportunities for youth feedback through informal consultation sessions i.e. ‘an idea for a juicie’. They are looking forward to a full year of events and activities for the youth in our district, as well as some wider events that they would like to be involved in. These include the following:
- Basketball Hoop Concrete Pad
- Kaikōura Youth Awards
- Seaside Sounds annual event
- KDC Annual plan submission
- Youth week activities
- Pink shirt day
- Mental health awareness week - and general promotion of mental health related topics
- Environmental Issues
- Effective meetings
- Youth leadership/development – Activate/Connect/Top of the South Forum
- Monthly Youth Blasts
- Xmas parade
- Contestable funding round
- Lyell Creek
This plan is a working document and can be added to and subtracted from as the youth council sees necessary.
Te wiki o Te Reo Māori week was 10-16 September 2018.
Kaikōura Youth Council organised a lunch time activity at Kaikōura High School, where they wandered around with colourful balloons asking students to tell them all 6 colours in te reo. Students and teachers all got involved and those who were able to say all the colours were given a chocolate bar. It was great to see everyone at the High School jumping on board and giving some te reo a go, and for those who weren't too sure there was always someone there willing to help them through.
Te wiki o Te Reo Māori has been a great success for 2018 in Kaikōura!
Vicki Gulleford (pictured) took out the top award for 'Adults who support Youth', with her work in the Kaikōura Youth Council, GirlGuilding, Kaikōura Primary School and various other groups and clubs. She devotes her time to seeing the youth of Kaikōura have opportunities available to learn, inspire and be inspired.
Claudine Smith-Barker was awarded first runner up in the same category, with her dedication to the youth space in Kaikōura - has recently become known as the Biccy Queen for GirlGuides!
Petra Jellyman (pictured) won the 'Supreme Youth in Kaikōura District'. She has been in Kaikōura Youth Council for 5 years now, and recently stepped down as Chair to let her peers have the opportunity to learn and grow in the role. She is now secretary and continues to advocate and encourage the youth in our district.
Kaikōura had a total of 7 people nominated for an award, as well as the Kaikōura Youth Council as a group.
The nominees were:
- Chloe Fitzpatrick
- Claudine Smith-Barker
- Maia Kahu
- Oliver Hughes
- Petra Jellyman
- Sarah Beardmore
- Vicki Gulleford, and
- Kaikōura Youth Council
Kaikōura District Council wants to not just congratulate, but thank those who work in the youth space in our district. It is fantastic to see so many passionate youth, and passionate people supporting youth within our community.
We have some pretty amazing people working in the youth space here in Kaikōura, and three of them have been nominated for an award in the 2018 Canterbury Youth Awards.
Vicki Gulleford, Claudine Smith-Barker and Petra Jellyman are all finalists and will find out their placings at the awards ceremony on 31 August in Christchurch.
Vicki was nominated in the 'Adults who support Youth' section, for her work as Youth Council Coordinator, Guide and Ranger Leader for GirlGuiding, Area Coordinator for GirlGuiding and Kaikōura Primary School Board of Trustees.
Claudine was also nominated in the 'Adults who support Youth' section and is a volunteer Leader for GirlGuiding NZ.
Petra was nominated for the 'Supreme Youth of Kaikōura' award, which is sponsored by Te Hā o Mātauranga - Learning in Kaikōura, and she has chaired the Kaikōura Youth Council for a number of years and is now the Secretary. She has also been involved in Girl Guiding.
Kaikōura had a total of 7 people nominated for an award, as well as the Kaikōura Youth Council as a group. The nominees were:
- Chloe Fitzpatrick
- Claudine Smith-Barker
- Maia Kahu
- Oliver Hughes
- Petra Jellyman
- Sarah Beardmore
- Vicki Gulleford, and
- Kaikōura Youth Council
Congratulations to all who were nominated from all Kaikōura and wider Canterbury. It's great to see the fantastic work being done celebrated and rewarded. We look forward to hearing about the results at the end of August!
On Tuesday 24 July, Kaikōura Youth Council met for their 2017/2018 AGM.
Introducing new members, going over past events, checking their finances and the current Chair handing the batton to a new leader for 2018-2019 were all included in the meeting.
Gearing up for another year of events, influence in Council and making a difference in our district, every member of the Youth Council are a credit to our community.
Council are excited to work alongside Youth Council over the next three years, as we work to implement many aspects of the 3 Year Plan that will require a strong voice from our youth.
Here's to another year!
Some of our Youth Council members attended the Youth Council Top of the South Forum mid July. Theo shared a few thoughts about the event...
On Friday the 13th of July, members of Kaikōura Youth Council traveled to Blenheim to meet with other youth councils in the Marlborough area; Nelson, Blenheim, and Murchison Youth Council's.
We discussed things like financial information, the events we run, and submissions that we make. We enjoyed getting to know how other councils did things. Some were more submission based, running only one large-scale event a year. Others were more like KYC, running events often, but also writing submissions occasionally.
There was also casual time for casual conversation, so that members from different youth councils could socialise, and talk about things not related to councils, over pizza. There was also a presentation/workshop from Steve Smith, to develop rapport and to learn about our personalities.
KYC finished off the enjoyable day with a round of 10-pin bowling.
Thanks for sharing Theo, looks like there were plenty of networking and learning opportunities to be had by all Youth Council's in attendance!
Image courtesy of Nelson Youth Council.
Kim and Libby (Council Communications) had an awesome time speaking to Kaikōura High School about Council's draft 3 Year Plan and what it means for the youth of Kaikōura and their families.
The Students (and Teachers) had some great questions about things in the plan - thanks so much for having us and thanks so much to Kaikōura Youth Council for helping us organise the presentation.
The Youth Council have been busy gathering the youth voice of Kaikōura and creating a submission on the 3 Year Plan. We feel very lucky that we have such an active and motivated Youth Council who understand the importance of having a youth voice on a plan such as this one.
Council looks forward to working alongside the youth of Kaikōura for the next three years and getting stuck into some key projects addressed in the plan. It's vital that youth have their say on important matters in our district, as they are the ones who will be shaping the future of our community.
On Thursday 24 May, Kaikōura Youth Council invited two of Kaikōura's awesome Police to Kaikōura High School for some giant Jenga and Connect Four.
The aim of the game was to connect the youth of Kaikōura and the Police in a casual and fun setting.
The first tower of Jenga went falling to the ground with a gasp from the crowd, and the students took the lead one-nil. Connect Four was also in the students' favour, with red taking victory over blue. The games continued throughout lunchtime, with the playing field evening-out and the conversation flowing freely.
Lots of students got involved. Thanks to Kaikōura Youth Council and Kaikōura Police for an awesome event.
Kaikōura Youth Council organised events every day of the week at the High School, as the internationally celebrated Youth Week is on. We think the youth in our community are pretty outstanding.
Monday's Youth Council organised activity was a hand print mural, created to represent everyone coming together as one and supporting one another to be their best selves. Then Tuesday saw a mirror day, where mirrors were used for the youth of Kaikōura to look at their reflections and write positive things about themselves.
Youth Week 2018's theme was 'Ahakoa te aha, kei a koe te tikanga: Be who you want to be," and was 19-27 May. Youth Week is held every May and is a nationwide festival of events organised by young New Zealanders to celebrate the talents, passion and success of local young people. It recognises the amazing contributions and achievements of young people in New Zealand and inspires the wider community to value, support and affirm the diversity of young people in our society.
Youth Week began in 1995 with a handful of events scattered throughout Canada. Since then it has gathered momentum and is now celebrated each year in countries all over the world. It came to Aotearoa in the late 1990s.
Kaikōura Youth Council joined forces with Te Hā, All Right? Kaikōura and the Violence Free network to support Pink Shirt Day on Friday 18 May.
The Youth Council hosted multi-sport at lunchtime and had a pledge board where students and teachers could sign the board pledging to not bully, and to do what they can to stop bullying if they see it. The Youth Council had some tee shirts available to students who came up with some good ways to deal with bullying and to encourage and build up our peers, whanau and social networks.
The day was beautiful and sunny, and lots of the students dressed up in their pink gear to take a stand against bullying.
Celebrated annually around the globe, Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying, mobilising their whole school, after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.
The event also saw the end of week one for Courtney, Kaikōura's new Youth Development Worker based at Te Hā o Mātauranga - Leaning in Kaikōura. Welcome to Kaikōura, Courtney!
On the 30th September 2017, for the first time ever, Kaikoura Youth Council hosted a Youth Awards to celebrate our outstanding youth and young leaders.
The 10 categories covered leadership, participation, service, arts and culture. There's also an Adult Support category to recognise those who help youth be the best they can be.
Youth Award Finalists 2017 - Latest news.
Check out the Finalists and winners here.
Useful links
- Follow Kaikōura Youth Council on Facebook
- Get in touch by emailing YouthCouncil@kaikoura.govt.nz
- Contact Youth Coordinator Vicki Gulleford - 027 564 8407
20 August 2018
