Get involved and achieve your goals

Published on 21 April 2017

21 April 2017

The Youth Committee is pleased to announce two exciting initiatives: a recruitment drive for new youth councillors and a round of $600ship funding to help young people work toward their aspirations. 

Cr Josh Chandulal-Mackay, Whanganui District Council’s appointed representative on the Youth Committee, encourages Whanganui youth aged 12 to 24 interested in their community and how local politics work to apply to become a Youth Councillor.

“We need a wide range of people with different kinds of skills and backgrounds on the Youth Committee, as this encourages good decision-making and allows a diverse range of young people in Whanganui to be represented.

“We are looking for people who can help find solutions to the issues young people face and who can share the views of people aged 12 to 24 to the wider community and to the Council. Young people may sometimes be lumped in one group, but they representative different genders, ethnicity and backgrounds within Whanganui and it’s important for everyone to be heard.”

The Youth Committee is also opening the first 2017 funding round for its $600ship programme, which helps give back to the community by supporting young people with their personal development. Five $600ships will be presented in the first round.

Cr Chandulal-Mackay, who was on the Youth Committee before being elected onto the Whanganui District Council, says, “The $600ships granted previously have been awarded to youth involved in volunteering, sport, cultural activities and the arts. It’s great to see how a relatively small contribution can help young people get on the path toward achieving their dreams”.  

The closing date for Youth Committee applications is 5.00pm, Monday, May 1. 

The closing date for the $600ships is 5.00pm on Friday, May 19. Applicants must live within the

Whanganui District and be aged between 12 and 24 years.

For more information and other criteria, and to apply, please visit www.whanganui.govt.nz/youthcommittee