Northland student voice heard

Northland E4E Students Forum participants, from left to right, Ellie Goldsmith, Jade Larkan, Jovan Mokoraka-Harris, Rangi Hall, Jake Wainwright.

Late last term 22 dedicated year 11 to year 13 students from seven Northland secondary schools met at the second Education for Enterprise Northland Student Forum. Students were selected for their positive can-do attitude and came from schools across the region.

The forum was set up by Education for Enterprise under the Enterprise Northland banner after it was identified that students in Northland needed a credible voice to enable them to influence decision making in schools, and in matters affecting youth in Northland and nationally.

At the conclusion of the two days, led by the students, a sustainable structure for the forum had been developed along with an action plan to expand the forum into the seven participating schools and then into other Northland secondary schools.

The action plan includes a succession plan and the mechanism to provide input into local, regional and national policy on matters affecting youth. Participants at the forum provided initial input to the Northland Regional Council for the regional growth strategy programme.

Magnum Pio Tuipuloto, regional youth development advisor, Ministry of Youth Development was impressed by the motivation of the students and their interest in, and opportunity to feed into the vision for Northland.

Some comments from the students about the forum include:

 “It was very productive and makes me excited about the future.”

“Still learning, still working, still having fun, I’m glad that I could come.”

“The atmosphere was awesome! I loved it. It was great!”

Callum Harris from Whangarei Boys’ High School was elected as chairman with Jilly Alexander form Springbank School elected deputy.

The following were elected to represent their schools: Kaitaia College, Jaydan Buckley; Northland College, Te Hau White; Springbank School, Jilly Alexander; Kerikeri High School, Jessica Perenara; Kamo High School, Rochelle Judkins; Whangarei Girls’ High School, Trixibelle Swan; Whangarei Boys’ High School, Calum Cartwright.

The forum, held in the Hokianga, was supported by Enterprise Northland, Northland Regional Council, NZ Trade and Enterprise, Ministry of Youth Development, ASB, Gen-i and Northland companies including Fix Creative and Collective Concepts.