Hamilton is a great city to grow up and live in but one of the real measures has to be how our rangatahi perceive their quality of life! Whenever I visit schools or youth groups there continues to be comments from teenagers about the lack of activities – especially free activities to keep young people occupied.
For those parents who can afford to pay tuition fees for extra curricular activities then all is well and good but for the vast majority of those who cannot afford to pay the increasing costs of extra activities or holiday programmes, the strain can be a continual struggle leading to some angst in the household.
I wanted to focus on what makes for positive youth development and give a big mihi to some of those groups who continue to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Whai Märama and the team of youth transition workers do a great job supporting rangatahi moving beyond school to further training, education or employment, Te Ahurei Rangatahi are a well known fixture at several schools and communities making being young an opportunity to excel in ones strengths, the many youth workers connecting with our rangatahi through the Hamilton City Council and community houses are tireless in their effort to respond to the youth community and they too deserve recognition and a special mention.

Then there are the social workers and counsellors that provide support services through groups like Parentline, Family Start, James Family Trust, Marlborough House, Kaute Pacifika, SPI, the Migrant and Refugee Centre, not to mention the youth workers at the alternative education centres throughout the city. There are many, many more organisations that I have omitted but not intentionally. Te Wänanga o Aotearoa, training establishment’s teachers who make the time for their students all deserve recognition way beyond this column. But it’s a simple way of saying thank you for the work that you all do on a shoe-string budget.

I wanted to make special mention of the tee-shirt designers and young buskers I met down at the Frankton Markets in the weekend. They continue to let their creativity inspire the imagination and it is a great thing to see!
To Hana Benge in particular – definitely a new and upcoming talent in the city – keep going and knock on every door of opportunity until you make it to the ‘Big Time’. I am sure you will.
The real point of this column is to say that when there is encouragement for young people, when support systems, activities and events exist in a community and city it is a sure sign of thriving success!