FOREWORD

Tēnā koe

Thank you for taking the time to read the 2015 Youth Declaration.

This document reflects the views of the 196 young people from across the nation who took part in the Aotearoa Youth Declaration conference this year. It is the result of weeks of hard work and research ending in four days of learning, discussions and debate. The statements in the following pages represent the compromises that were reached by a representative group of high school students who wish to have their voices heard in the policy making decisions of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aotearoa Youth Declaration is an annual civics education conference, that creates a platform for rangatahi to express their views on issues of public policy. Taking place from the 8th - 11th of April, the four days consisted of community outreach programmes, workshops, group discussions and industry speakers, involving over 50 external organisations and persons.

Discussions took place in Focus Groups on 15 policy areas, with each Focus Group broadly aligned with parliamentary select committees. Throughout four days of intense discussion, each group crafted several statements, which are then debated and adopted by a plenary of all participants. The statements have been ranked in terms of importance, with each group highlighting their priority policy issue. These priority statements represent the key problems that our young people think need to addressed.

The power to act on these statements now rests with you. Every individual has the capacity to bring about change in their communities, no matter how young or old. We hope that you will spread these recommendations through your communities, to show that age is no barrier to holding intelligent, nuanced opinions, and to give the youth voice the weight it truly deserves.

Yours sincerely,

Gina YukichAotearoa Youth Declaration 2015 Coordinator

1.1. We propose that the government establishes a trust fund to which both public and private investors can contribute, with the aim of providing appropriate monetary support, low-interest loans, and mentoring to aid start-up businesses in getting access to funding.

1.2. We support the current review proposed by the government to the Resource Management Act and hope to see changes that will make resource consent easier and cheaper for small businesses to comply with.

1.3. We propose that the government implement tax reductions for businesses with social and community benefits, and promotes widespread education to raise awareness about the work of social enterprises. This will encourage social responsibility in business practises and look to strike a balance between both business and society.

1.4. We strongly support the growth of our agricultural industry, especially the growth of the dairy industry. We suggest increasing funding for the purpose of developing new and existing technologies to further improve the efficiency of agricultural production, while strengthening and enforcing environmental production.

1.5. We encourage the government to provide subsidies or tax incentives to businesses and property developers that operate in rural districts to stimulate movement around Aotearoa New Zealand, boost the rural economy, and encourage the construction of more houses.

1.6. We believe that the prevalence of foreign investors purchasing New Zealand land could create an imbalance where New Zealand land is not primarily owned by New Zealanders and thus restrictions should be considered in the future.

BUSINESS AND PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

The Civic Engagement was held and facilitated entirely online. This was a new initiative in 2015 that digitally replicated the methodology of Focus Group sessions at the conference. With a key goal of making the Youth Declaration a truly accessible and representative document, the Online Focus Group dramatically reduced traditional barriers to engagement with the Declaration such as cost, distance and time. Participants engaged with discussion topics, wrote draft statements and voted on proposals to collaboratively form their collective opinion. The Online Focus Group was freely available to all high-school students, with traditionally underrepresented groups actively encouraged to contribute. The statements created through the Online Focus Group represent within themselves the desire and potential for youth engagement through novel and emerging platforms.

2.1. We strongly encourage the Ministry of Education explore the possibility of introducing apolitical civics education as a separate component of the New Zealand Curriculum, building upon the current broad-based, integrated topic format it exists as currently. An informed public is vital to democracy and this ensures that future generations are more politically engaged.

2.2. Civics education is important, especially for young people, as it increases awareness of methods of civic engagement and the rights and duties of citizens. We define civics education as the teaching and study of different types of government, political systems and processes.

2.3. We support the government’s investigation and trial of online voting systems for the upcoming 2016 Local Body elections, though we note the importance ensuring the security and integrity of the technology used to facilitate this. Electronic or online voting would make the electoral process more convenient and accessible for the public, encouraging greater civic engagement.

2.4. We particularly encourage the government to provide support towards the incorporation of civics education into cultural and religious activities and/or organisations targeted at Māori and Pasifika youth, in order to more effectively educate and involve this expanding demographic. According to the ICCES, Māori and Pasifika youth are highly engaged in these activities yet are characterised by poor civic engagement levels.

CULTURE AND HERITAGE

3.1. We support the introduction of education, media refinement and national multicultural days, in light of the significant loss of cultural diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand. We recommend the continuation and growth of cultural understanding as a priceless taonga in areas such as education, the workplace, and urban environments. As kaitiaki, we must emphasise the importance of encompassing all present cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand and to break down cultural barriers.

3.2. We recognise the lack of indigenous cultural understanding by the tāngata of Aotearoa New Zealand and urge schools to assist in combating this issue by implementing integrated comprehensive Māori education, with the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Reo language skills and tikanga in the primary education system. Fluent students can be given opportunities for further, higher level development. We would also support increased integration of these topics in our teaching qualifications at a tertiary level.

3.3. We encourage the government to fund broadcasting stations to reduce the negative portrayal of cultural groups by placing cultural TV shows at more feasible times to promote positive aspects; and supporting the funding of a New Zealand-run media programme that explores our cultural diversity to represent our various ethnicities in a positive manner.

3.4. The youth of Aotearoa New Zealand value our creative arts highly, as a means of promoting cultural identity and understanding. We see this as crucial in creating a legacy for future generations, with a focus on the growth of funding and the contribution of creative arts to tourism.

3.5. We urge the introduction of a personalised and interactive agency to assess and aid migrants in order to improve their quality of life, assisting in their integration into society whilst maintaining their cultural identity and rebuilding their mana, to promote the cultural enrichment of our nation.

3.6. We understand the importance of intercultural consensus on the issue of changing the flag, and we support the government’s current efforts in their wide-reaching public opinion strategies, including but not limited to flag design submissions and two national referenda held during and after May 2015. We believe that these wide reaching public strategies are essential to encompass all of New Zealand’s different viewpoints on whether or not to change New Zealand’s flag.

3.7. We would like to increase opportunities for people of all ages to engage with Māori recreational, creative, and cultural activities through support of local government, museums, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and local iwi.

ECONOMY AND TRADE

4.1. We are concerned with the negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Part-nership Agreement, particularly as it may restrict the effectiveness of economic policy instruments. We encourage a degree of transparency by the creation of a public forum (both online and offline). This would allow Members of Parliament to take into account the views of the public and that the government does not sign any agreement that overly restricts regulatory power.

4.2. We conclude that the current level of government intervention in the econ-omy is acceptable. We understand that to ensure the distribution of free market gains, balanced market interventions by the government are required for socially, environmentally and economically fair outcomes.

4.3. We agree with the signing of Free Trade Agreements. However, we are con-cerned with the negative impacts on New Zealand industries, and the negative social effects of increased globalization on foreign populaces.

4.4. We believe the tikanga principles of kotahitanga and kaitiakitanga are of partic-ular importance when formulating economic policy. These values encourage leaders to develop a balance for the wellbeing of all parts of our country, specifically the environ-ment, the economy, and people.

4.5. We recommend that the government further encourage schemes that support businesses in the employment of young people to combat youth unemployment.

4.6. We encourage and support the work done by Working for Families, and recom-mend that the government increase investment in similar programs to help low-income families.

 

EDUCATION

5.1. We believe that schools should have a more equal focus on all aspects of learning, accommodating for different learning styles. A holistic approach to education is instrumental to producing well-rounded citizens. We believe the government should work with schools to ensure that such an approach is taken seriously by the school, teachers and students.

5.2. We strongly urge a review of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) system to accommodate a larger focus on allowing teachers and students to explore certain topics more deeply. We encourage NCEA to include a greater emphasis on:

a. Strengthening critical analysis skills;b. Increasing the international recognition of the qualification;c. Consistency in achievement standards across levels ;d. Re-evaluating credit value for internal and external assessment;e. Greater integration of tikanga Māori.

5.3. We believe that more qualitative and quantitative data relating to achievement should be available to individual schools in an appropriate manner, in order to identify areas of improvement. We recognise the value of standardized testing in certain subject areas, specifically primary numeracy and literacy.

5.4. We encourage the government to monitor teacher and facilitator qualifications at Partnership Schools / Kura Hourua, so that student education is not compromised. This will help ensure the delivery of universal, world-class, and professional education services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

5.5. We acknowledge the important role that early childhood education (ECE) plays in learning and development, and encourage the government to continue investing in free, mandatory ECE, particularly for children at 4 years until they start primary school.

5.6. We recognise issues arising from the lack of basic understanding in areas such as taxation, insurance, contracts, and the development of good financial habits. We recommend the introduction of compulsory financial literacy into primary and early secondary education, in order to support the growth of independent, self-sufficient members of society.

5.7. We suggest the increase of subsidies towards tertiary fees, in order to provide more equitable access.

5.8. We suggest that the road code and basic driving skills be taught in school.

5.9. We encourage increased flexibility and accessibility to programs for disabled and intellectually disadvantaged students within schools systems.

5.10. We strongly recommend that the government implement compulsory foreign language learning at primary and intermediate school. We hope that this will stimulate passion for languages and create well-rounded New Zealanders, who are better able to communicate and interact with foreign cultures and societies.

ENVIRONMENT

6.1. We believe in a more sustainable primary sector, which should be achieved by reducing farming intensity, educating stakeholders, and enacting restorative measures. In particular, Aotearoa New Zealand needs to reduce the amount of pollutants leaching into freshwater systems, reduce CO2 and methane emissions, as well as reassess current commercial livestock numbers. We recommend further research into these areas and communicating safe and preventative agricultural practices, while acknowledging our commitment to kaitiakitanga.

6.2. We recommend the inclusion of youth in protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment through awareness and involvement in more environmental programs. This should target youth broadly and be done through accessible and appropriate avenues. In particular, we recommend extending formal sustainability education in high schools to create environmentally responsible citizens in the future.

6.3. We wish to commend the Department of Conservation on their achievements in the field of conservation. In order for the Department of Conservation to be able to save endemic species - our natural, living taonga, such as the Maui’s Dolphin - they must receive more funding. Such funding should focus on maintaining and building their work in pest control, animal rehabilitation, conservation, research and monitoring.

6.4. We recommend government invest in renewable energy sources to make Aotearoa New Zealand less reliant on fossil fuels and mining, and to cease deep-sea oiling, drilling and fracking. This is because these practices poses a permanent risk to our ecosystem, particularly our biodiversity, and will only lead to further pollution.

6.5. We recommend that the government invest in the research and implementation of alternative sustainable fishing methods to move away from trawling. We believe that this change will preserve both our fish stocks and marine biodiversity for future generations.

6.6. We believe agriculture should be included within Aotearoa New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme. We hope that this can result in greater regulation and incentives concerning the environmental impacts of primary industries. We also recommend measures such as carbon taxation or investigating other appropriate subsidies to promote sustainable agricultural and industry practices.

6.7. We believe that the government should amend existing exhaust emissions standards. This is to better differentiate between vehicles that produce differing degrees of emissions. We recommend implementing long-term incentives and subsidies to help move towards low-emission vehicles, as well as taxing or implementing import tariffs on high-emission vehicles.

7.1. We recommend the option to identify with a non-binary gender on all government documents and standardised tests. This is to help normalise the idea of non-binary genders in Aotearoa New Zealand and increase the representation of non-binary persons in official statistics.

7.2. We strongly encourage the Aotearoa New Zealand Human Rights Act recognise both gender and socio-economic status, and substitute the term ‘colour’ with ‘appearance’ in the Act. This is to ensure that marginalised groups are not outcasted by outdated terms.

7.3. We recommend the inclusion and expansion of education about minorities in the school curriculum both including and beyond Health and Physical Education courses. This is to normalise these minorities, as well as educating students about the issues faced by these communities.

7.4. We recognise and commend the government on their progressive efforts to embrace diversity, and normalise the differences present in our country. However, we encourage further action to create a country that is inclusive and accepting of everyone, proactively creating equality through equity.

7.5. We strongly urge that the training of professionals within the public sector - including but not limited to the education and healthcare sub-sectors - involves education regarding relevant sensitive issues relating to minorities and other marginalised groups in society. For example, educating doctors on gender identity in the case of gender identity and gender assignment for non-binary peoples.

7.6. We recommend New Zealand on Air receives government funding to go towards the creation and progression of media content that increases the prevalence of marginalised groups portrayed in an in depth and accurate manner. This is to mitigate tokenistic characterisation.

7.7. We recommend the funding and implementation of a youth for youth support system for those involved in domestic abuse, focusing on marginalised groups nationwide, and with emphasis on rural areas. This is to encourage the de-stigmatisation around seeking help for those that find it difficult to come forward. This is including but not limited to men who are victims within abusive relationships.

ETHICS AND EQUITY

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

8.1. We congratulate Aotearoa New Zealand on its successful election to the UN Security Council. We trust that Aotearoa New Zealand will maintain its status as an independent moral voice and peace-broker. We would like to see objectivity and integrity in engagement with issues of international security, such as the resolution of civil conflicts, like the Ukrainian crisis, and acts of terrorism, including those committed by Boko Haram.

8.2. We call for more comprehensive public consultation with all age groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as more rigorous parliamentary debate prior to any decision to enter international conflict. Especially for engaging with youth, the implementation of online referendums can increase the ease of gauging their opinions. New Zealanders need the opportunity to influence and scrutinise such actions before they are taken, and it is the duty of the government to provide these opportunities so that public opinion is taken into account, especially given the significance of such decisions.

8.3. We support the prioritisation of the Pacific for our Official Development Assistance. Further, we encourage increased support for education, human rights initiatives and expertise-sharing in the region, it is our duty to lead and support our neighbours in the Pacific, and to advocate for them internationally.

8.4. We urge the government to re-evaluate its refugee quota, given the increasing number of people displaced due to global humanitarian crises and climate change. We also call for a commitment in the 2016 budget to improving and expanding services aimed at fully integrating refugees and asylum seekers into Aotearoa New Zealand society.

8.5. We would like Aotearoa New Zealand to champion the expansion of the term ‘refugee’ as defined by the United Nations Refugee Agency to include refugees of climate change, and to do so by investigating this change in national legislation. We believe that it is Aotearoa New Zealand’s duty as a leader in the Pacific region to set such an example.

8.6. We believe Aotearoa New Zealand should invest more in student and professional exchange programmes. These are an effective way to strengthen relationships with other countries and allow for cultural and intellectual ties to be forged. There should be a special focus on non-traditional partners in South America and Africa, and investment should ideally target Non-Governmental Organisations such as Rotary, or publicity for exchange programs.

GOVERNANCE

9.1. We encourage the government to adopt the recommendations put forward by the Electoral Commission in regards to abolishing the coat-tail rule and lowering the threshold from 5% to 4%, in an attempt to improve the fairness and effectiveness of our electoral system.

9.2. We urge the government to entrench the Bill of Rights Act 1990 in order to further protect the basic rights and freedoms of all New Zealanders.

9.3. We call on the government to hold a non-binding referendum on the question of whether Aotearoa New Zealand should become a republic, in order to determine popular opinion on this issue.

9.4. We recommend that the government extend the length of the parliamentary term to four years to provide scope and encourage vision for long-term government initiatives.

9.5. We affirm the increasingly prevalent trend of judges incorporating the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their judgments, and prefer this to the idea of codifying the Treaty in statute.

9.6. We endorse the re-introduction of the Constitution Conversation to further determine public opinion on the issue.

9.7. We strongly recommend that the government initiate a review of the compulsory voting system modelled in New South Wales and its suitability for implementation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

HAUORA

10.1. We believe that the government should always consider the “Whare Tapa Wha” model when creating health policies. This will ensure a holistic approach is always taken towards the hauora of the nation.

10.2. We recommend the implementation of increased funding into the Very Low Cost Access Scheme (VLCAS) to encourage clinics to provide more affordable and accessible services after hours as those in lower socio-economic households find it harder to access GP’s.

10.3. We believe that when health professionals treat mental illness many personal factors of the patient must be taken into account such as mental, physical, spiritual and social and be included in the recovery process. This will ensure recovery methods are as comprehensive and effective as possible.

10.4. We advocate for rape to be included as a legal ground for abortion in Aotearoa New Zealand. Pregnancy as a result of rape is greatly detrimental to the overall hauora of the victim. We would also like to see the reasonable expansion of the ground for abortion in general to preserve the rights of women and the rights of individuals.

10.5. We recommend the implementation of more education around mental illness in secondary schools and more funding put towards public awareness in order to remove the stigma around mental illness.

10.6. We recommend the reduction of GST on fresh fruit and vegetables to increase accessibility and an increased GST on carbonated drinks to act as a discouragement of purchase. This will encourage healthy eating habits, the lack of which has created an obesity problem in Aotearoa New Zealand.

10.7. We recommend that a compulsory education for Year 10 students surrounding contraceptives and the emergency measures available to them be implemented. We think greater awareness will create more informed choices and lower teen pregnancy rates.

11.1. We suggest the implementation of a road user charge system in Auckland for commercial trucks and freight. This will involve charging higher prices during peak congestion times and lower prices during off-peak travel in order to avoid congestion and make for more efficient use of roads.

11.2. We want to promote the simplification of the public transport networks through further construction of separate and direct bus lanes in regional centres, following the example of the Northern Expressway in Auckland. This will promote increased frequency, uptake and safety of public transport. This can be achieved through governmental grants, localised road taxes and user charges.

11.3. We recommend the creation of safe cycle lanes in the city centres of the top ten most populous cities of Aotearoa New Zealand. This will reduce congestion, decrease carbon emissions and increase safety, while promoting healthy living. In order to further encourage cycling in cities, we recommend local councils to introduce public bike share systems.

11.4. We suggest the implementation of specific seats for people with engineering backgrounds in the Christchurch City Council board to relieve the inefficiency of the Christchurch rebuild. This would streamline the communication between council members in the consenting process of infrastructure projects.

11.5. We recommend better communication between recovery managers and emergency controllers to combat the problem of slow transitions between immediate incident response and recovery in the event of a disaster. In order to do so, we encourage the involvement of a long-term recovery manager as part of the immediate response team.

11.6. We suggest the introduction of a building ranking system in the context of energy efficiency for new build commercial buildings. In order to incentivise this we recommend the government implements rebates proportional to energy efficiency.

11.7. We support the government’s energy policy of reaching 90% renewable energy production by 2025. We believe that this growth should be focused in the areas of offshore wind and tidal farms and geothermal production. This will maintain the use of land for agricultural purposes.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND CIVIL DEFENCE

LAW AND ORDER

12.1. We recommend that legislation is changed so that restricted drivers are able to drive confirmed members of either their family or household, even if they do not have legal responsibility for them. This would further accommodate for the reality of personal situations.

12.2. We recommend a review of integrating young females under eighteen into adult female prisons and implementing appropriate changes, as currently juvenile wings are available for male youths but not for females.

12.3. We recommend the creation of a committee to oversee the GCSB, who will be able to impose stricter limitations on collection of metadata of citizens to create greater transparency on the collection and use of information.

12.4. We recommend an extension of the jurisdiction of the Youth Courts to try young persons for murder and manslaughter, as well as a review of youth sentences with a focus on age and reintegration into society. We believe that this will provide further support for young offenders in the judicial process.

12.5. We recognise and celebrate the Rangatahi Courts, and its work recognising the importance of tikanga concepts such as whanaungatanga in the criminal justice system, as well as accommodating for the disproportionate number of Māori youth offenders.

12.6. We suggest there is a further focus on rehabilitation, community work and support for drug crimes, especially with the crime of possession of Class C drugs as well a nationwide implementation of the drug court. This would encourage social progression rather than a penal sentence, which has significant social impacts on both offenders and the wider community.

12.7. We recommend that marijuana should be legalised for medicinal purposes, but specifically requiring a doctor’s prescription. We hope that this will improve the medical outcomes for patients who can receive tangible benefits from medicinal marijuana, but are currently barred from access.

SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

13.1. We encourage the integration of business and innovation as key competencies of intermediate and secondary school science. This will help future generations with the development of critical thinking and increase the innovative nature of Aotearoa New Zealand’s future leaders and entrepreneurs.

13.2. We recommend that the government integrate hands-on science events, clubs and opportunities for exposure to science workplaces throughout all levels of education in order to foster a passion and understanding of science.

13.3. We recommend the application of incentives, such as the recognition of overseas qualifications, through the use of short courses to assess the aptitude of qualified individuals, educating where necessary, to aid their transition into the workforce. This is to attract those in professions on the skills shortages list, to combat the trend of intellectuals in Aotearoa New Zealand moving overseas.

13.4. We believe that the government should fund advertisements that propagate the general scientific consensus on matters of public disillusionment or to encourage intermediary organisations to create programmes to the same effect. This is to bridge the gulf between public and professional scientific opinion on issues of general importance.

13.5. We endorse the support of small research and development focused businesses through collaboration with larger, more established companies and scientific institutions. This helps to address the lack of continued expansion, as well as increasing the efficiency of scientific advancement and profit.

13.6. We recommend the need for key incentives to encourage private sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand to invest in research and development of science and innovation, due to relatively low private sector investment by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards and an over-reliance on government funding.

13.7. We applaud the steps taken towards improving the stance of women in STEM related careers and endorse the continuation of these egalitarian efforts.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

14.1. We strongly recommend raising the legal age at which a child leaves foster care from 17 to 18, in addition to implementing provisional support, monitoring and network systems to combat social isolation and ease the transition to independence.

14.2. We believe that social equality in society needs to be addressed through a stronger focus on collective responsibility and collaborative relationships between the state, community agencies and whanau. Government policy should consider the significance of self-sufficiency and social inclusiveness in fostering a sense of unity and mutual respect across Aotearoa New Zealand.

14.3. We recommend the provision of necessary resources and incentives to keep young people who are susceptible to poverty in the schooling system and allow them to achieve higher education as a targeted approach to breaking the poverty cycle. This will prevent reliance on the benefit system; as well as encouraging independence, self-sufficiency, greater societal contribution and equality.

14.4. We actively endorse introducing a nationwide warrant of fitness for all rental property, particularly state housing. This ensures that all tenants are living in adequate conditions to maintain their health and wellbeing.

14.5. We encourage a proactive approach to family and domestic violence at its root through a stronger emphasis identifying risk factors and addressing persistent social, gender and ethnic inequalities. A prioritization of reciprocal care, restoring connection and family reunification is key to establishing healthy relationships and support systems within communities.

14.6. We acknowledge that attitudes in Aotearoa New Zealand toward the reality of the youth binge-drinking culture must change. We believe that in order to foster a greater focus on safe and responsible consumption of alcohol, the underlying social influences faced by young people needs to be addressed through youth-for-youth initiatives.

14.7. We encourage the government to prioritise the funding and provision of state housing to increase the capacity of beneficiaries of all demographics in need of accommodation support, particularly young people who have been identified as most vulnerable.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

15.1. We believe a review committee made up of youth from a range of backgrounds should be formed with a focus on ensuring that Aotearoa New Zealand youth are not unfairly portrayed within the media. We feel that the media disproportionately focuses on the negative stereotypes of the youth in this country and fails to adequately recognise the positive actions and behaviour of our youth today.

15.2. We recognise current efforts made by youth councils and other organisations that work to benefit whakaurunga rangatahi in minority groups, smaller cities and towns. We strongly encourage the further implementation and establishment of these organisations and youth councils to combat the underrepresentation of youth minorities, as well as youth in smaller cities and towns, in the national arena.

15.3. We recommend that the government encourage relevant organisations to recognise the mana and potential of Māori and Pacific Island (MPI) youth. This should be achieved by incorporating kotahitanga into their approach while promoting youth opportunities. NZ youth platforms often appear unrelatable and unapproachable to MPI youth, which leads to a lack of involvement.

15.4. We propose that the government encourages schools to implement a standardised binding contract between schools, parents and guardians, and students regarding cyber-bullying. This agreement would grant schools the authority to enforce consequences in response to cyber-bullying incidents involving their students both in and out of school hours.

15.5. We recommend that the government provide further funding to organisations working for or with youth living in poverty. This is to ensure all youth have adequate access to the basic necessities such as education, healthcare, and nutrition. We believe the rights of all youth, as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC), need to be further recognised and enforced.

15.6. We propose that the government and NGOs work together with schools and media to further promote youth mental health services in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of said services. We appreciate the current efforts made by the government and organisations that are working towards combating youth mental health issues.

15.7. We believe that there is an under-appreciation of how crucial the voice of youth is in the development of the Aotearoa New Zealand society. An increased whakamaiohatanga of youth will empower them to reach their potential and thus take full advantage of opportunities made available to them.

Aotearoa Youth Declaration would like to acknowledge the involvement and support of the following organisations and individuals at the conference: Starpath, Adolescent Health Research Group, Auckland High Court, Poto Williams, Damien Rogers, Dannie Cullen, Gehan Gunesekara, Michelle Pratt, Christina Leung, Lisa Callagher, Arthur Grimes, John Ip, Jacqui Southey, Nigel Kapa

Tikanga Glossary:

taonga - Treasure, applied to anything considered to be of value including socially or culturally valuable objects, resources, phenomenon, ideas and techniques.

kaitiakitanga - Guardianship, stewardship, trusteeship, or trustee.

tāngata - People, men, persons, or human beings.

tikanga - The customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context.

mana - Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, or status.

kotahitanga - Unity, togetherness, solidarity, or collective action.

hauora - The concept of well-being encompassing the physical, mental and emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of health.

rangatahi - Younger generation, youth.

whanaungatanga - Relationships through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging.

whakamaiohatanga - To cause appreciation, welcome, or token of regard.

whakaurunga - Enrolment, introduction, admission, entry, or participation.

IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

© Copyright UN Youth New Zealand 2015. This publication is copyright and remains the intellectual property of UN Youth New Zealand. No part of it may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of UN Youth New Zealand.

THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (UNITED NATIONS YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND BRANCH), INC

IS THE YOUTH ARM OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND, A MEMBER OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS (WFUNA).