Nau mai, haere mai

In early 2021, Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana reached out to over 500 rangatahi to find out how they want to connect with council. YIP was one of the solutions suggested. You asked, we listened.

Applications to become one of the 12 YIP panel members closed on Monday 30th August. We have been blown away by the quality of applications to be a part of this amazing opportunity for young people to share their whakaaro and help shape how Toi Moana engages with rangatahi moving forwards. We had applications from 55 young people from right across the rohe - a HUGE mihi to everyone who took the time to apply!

It was a tough job but we whittled the applicants down to a final 14 individuals who will form the YIP group. Our first get together is a noho marae, to be held on 16-17 October in Rotorua.

Watch this space for more updates on how council is working alongside rangatahi.

Be a Changemaker

The Youth Involvement Project (YIP) group is to be the voice of rangatahi, specifically in shaping how Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council listens and incorporates young people’s perspective and whakaaro (opinion) moving forward.

Specifically, members of the YIP group will provide advice to staff to assist with:

• The development of a youth engagement plan to provide longer term strategic guidance for Bay of Plenty Regional Council in March 2022.
• The delivery of a Hackathon problem solving event in May 2022 focused on a Climate Change related topic.
• Help identify meaningful work experience opportunities for young people within Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Is this for me?

To apply for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Youth Involvement Project, you will need to be:

• 16-25 years old as of 1 August 2021.
• Live in the Bay of Plenty region.
• Committed to regular participation in discussions on fostering a healthy environment, freshwater for life, safe and resilient communities and a vibrant region up to 30 June 2022.

And yes, you get paid

Members of the Youth Involvement Project group are committing time to be prepared and participate in these meeting and Noho Marae, and this will be recognised through the payment of honoraria.

Youth changemakers can expect to receive the following honorarium:

• $100 for each monthly meetings of approximately 2 hours.
• $200 for each of the two Noho Marae events they attend in full.
• If a member is holding an extra role such as a chair they will be paid $50 in addition to their meeting fee for the additional responsibility.

At Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana, our work guides and supports the region's sustainable development.

We do this by focusing on four key community outcomes:

A healthy environment - We will maintain and enhance our air, land, freshwater, geothermal, coastal resources and biodiversity for all those who live, work and play within our region. We support others to do the same.

Freshwater for life - Our water and land management practices maintain and improve the quality and quantity of the region’s freshwater resources.

Safe and resilient communities - Our planning and infrastructure supports resilience to natural hazards so that our communities’ safety is maintained and improved.

A vibrant region - We work with our partners and communities to achieve integrated planning and good decision-making. We support economic development, understanding the Bay of Plenty region and how we can best add value.