Articles tagged with Youth
New Youth Hubs in Hamilton, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay Boost Mental Health Support
5 days ago | 121 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing $3 million to establish three Youth Hubs in Hamilton, Nelson, and Hawke's Bay to provide faster, easier access to mental health and addiction support for young people aged 16 to 25. These hubs will offer counseling, peer support, and specialist services in one location, designed with input from young people to better meet their needs and reduce system fragmentation. Additionally, a $1 million investment is enhancing youth acute respite services in Waikato and Hawke's Bay to provide timely support and prevent crises from escalating.
Tags: Mental Health Addiction Support Youth Hubs Matt Doocey Suicide Prevention Hamilton Nelson Hawke's Bay Waikato Youth Mental HealthGovernment and Community Fund $950K to Boost Youth Education and Employment in Waikato
1 week ago | 148 viewsThe Waikato Region will benefit from joint Government and community funding initiatives to support over 400 young people in education, leadership, and employment pathways. The Hauraki Māori Trust Board received $316,000 (matched to $632,000) for a two-year early intervention program aiding 320 students' transition to high school, while the Raukawa Charitable Trust got $120,000 to run employability and education programs for 80 youth. Youth Minister James Meager emphasized that these partnerships leverage local knowledge to provide tailored support, align with government targets, and enhance opportunities without extra taxpayer cost.
Tags: James Meager Waikato Region Hauraki Māori Trust Board Youth Development Partnership Raukawa Charitable Trust Len Reynolds Trust Ministry of Youth Development Department of Internal Affairs youth employment education pathwaysGovernment to Publicly Report Youth Mental Health Support Access Speeds Quarterly
1 week ago | 226 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced that the Government will begin publicly reporting the speed at which young people access mental health support in quarterly target results to increase transparency and accountability. Despite improvements, barriers such as lack of awareness and embarrassment persist, prompting initiatives like the Youth Mental Health Summit and increased funding for youth services. Current data shows that over 73% to 79% of young people are accessing various mental health services within target timeframes, with ongoing efforts to improve these outcomes.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Youthline Mental Health Foundation New Zealand Gumboot Friday Youth Mental Health Summit young people mental health support governmentGovernment Invests $10M to Boost NZ Mental Health Telehealth Services
3 weeks ago | 263 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing over $10 million to strengthen mental health and addiction telehealth services, including funding for Lifeline, Youthline, and Whakarongorau to increase capacity and reduce wait times. This package will support approximately 16,000 additional calls and introduce an AI-enabled triage and referral tool to improve service efficiency and connect people to appropriate support. The funding provides Lifeline with operational certainty for 2026/2027 and expands Youthline’s capacity by 44 percent, addressing growing demand across the sector.
Tags: Lifeline Youthline Whakarongorau Matt Doocey New Zealand mental health addiction telehealth AI triage tool Government fundingJudge La-Verne King Appointed as New Principal Family Court Judge in Whangarei
1 month ago | 281 viewsJudge La-Verne King has been appointed as the new Principal Family Court Judge, starting in November after Judge Jackie Moran's retirement. With a legal career beginning in 1989, she co-founded the first Māori and Pasifika women law firm and has held various roles including Youth Advocate and District Inspector for Mental Health. Since her appointment to the District Court Bench in 2019, she has primarily served in Family and Youth Courts in Northland and became the Family Court Liaison Judge for the region in 2021.
Tags: Chris Bishop Ida Malosi Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae Jackie Moran KAM Legal Family Court Youth Court District Court Northland$20M Boost for Parenting Programs to Support Families and Child Development
1 month ago | 557 viewsA $20 million investment from Budget 2025 will expand evidence-based parenting initiatives, including the Triple P Positive Parenting and Mellow Parenting/Hoki ki te Rito programmes, to support families in meeting children's developmental needs. The funding targets the Government's Child and Youth Strategy priorities, focusing on early childhood support and harm prevention, with half allocated to broad parental support and half to high-need families through the Social Investment Fund. Additionally, the package will reinstate the Tākai national parenting platform, enhancing access to trusted resources and a continuum of support from universal to intensive services.
Tags: Louise Upston Triple P Mellow Parenting Hoki ki te Rito Tākai Child Poverty Reduction Minister Social Investment Fund Budget 2025 Child and Youth Strategy Parenting initiativesWairoa Youth Receive $200K Funding to Boost Education and Employment Pathways
2 months ago | 426 viewsMore than 80 Wairoa youth will benefit from a $200,000 joint government and community-funded initiative led by the Wairoa Young Achievers Trust to support re-engagement with education and pathways to employment. The ‘Pathways 2 Potential’ programme offers tailored workshops on skills like financial literacy, employability, and social media awareness, alongside mentoring and community volunteering opportunities. This investment aims to improve school attendance, academic performance, and successful transitions between education levels, aligning with government priorities for youth development and education.
Tags: James Meager Katie Nimon Wairoa Young Achievers Trust Youth Minister New Zealand Police Eastern and Central Community Trust First Light Community Foundation Ministry of Youth Development Youth Development Partnership Youth Minister James MeagerNorthland Launches Youth Acute Respite Service and Suicide Prevention Roles
2 months ago | 624 viewsNorthland is receiving improved youth mental health support with the launch of a dedicated Youth Acute Respite Service and three additional Youth Suicide Prevention Coordination roles, backed by $1.7 million in annual funding. This initiative responds to a coroner’s report on the loss of six young people, aiming to provide earlier crisis intervention and reduce hospital admissions by creating a more connected support system. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible mental health services nationwide and addressing identified regional needs.
Tags: Matt Doocey Youth Acute Respite Service Youth Suicide Prevention Mental Health Northland Coroner's Report Health New Zealand Suicide Prevention Coordination Mental Health Funding New Zealand GovernmentYouth Offending Rates Drop 25%: Positive Impact of Child and Youth Strategy Report
4 months ago | 650 viewsThe latest Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy highlights a significant reduction in youth offending, with serious and persistent offenders decreasing by 25 percent since June 2023, surpassing the original 2030 goal. Communities feel safer as young people make better choices, and there has also been a noted reduction in substantiated child abuse and neglect cases. Minister Karen Chhour praises the progress, thanks Oranga Tamariki staff, and emphasizes ongoing efforts to address generational issues and encourage reporting concerns to protect children.
Tags: Karen Chhour youth offending child and youth strategy Oranga Tamariki youth crime serious young offenders child abuse social workers Minister for Children Reports of ConcernGovernment Report Shows Positive Impact on Youth Offending and School Attendance
4 months ago | 737 viewsThe Government’s 2024/25 Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy highlights positive progress in reducing youth offending, child abuse, and food insecurity, while improving school attendance and parental support. Despite these gains, challenges persist with 14.3% of children experiencing material hardship and an increase in households receiving main benefits amid tough economic conditions. The Government remains committed to practical, evidence-based solutions through coordinated programs targeting education, health, housing, and welfare to further improve outcomes for children and young people.
Tags: Louise Upston Child Poverty Reduction Minister New Zealand Government Child and Youth Strategy Ministry of Social Development Kahu Taurima Healthy School Lunches Early Childhood Education Food Food Secure Communities Attendance Action PlanNew Child Mental Health Service Opens in Counties Manukau for Faster Youth Support
4 months ago | 676 viewsA new dedicated child mental health service, Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki, has been launched in Counties Manukau to provide faster access and early intervention for young people up to intermediate school age facing moderate to severe mental health challenges. This specialist team, part of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, includes a range of professionals and aims to support the region's rapidly growing youth population with wraparound care. Funded by an $18.7 million government investment, the initiative is part of a broader plan to expand the mental health workforce and improve crisis response to prevent youth from falling through the cracks.
Tags: Matt Doocey Counties Manukau Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki ICAMHS child mental health youth suicide New Zealand Mental Health Minister Health NZ whānau workersOranga Tamariki Improves Child Safety with 97% Timely Visits and Better Support
4 months ago | 740 viewsOranga Tamariki has shown significant progress in child care and protection, with 97% of children visited by social workers on time and improved compliance with caregiver support plans. There has been a notable reduction in serious offending behavior and harm among children in state care, supported by increased social worker recruitment, $68 million investment in case management technology, and enhanced training. Despite challenges like high reports of concern and insufficient supported accommodation, Minister Karen Chhour remains committed to improving the system and prioritizing child wellbeing.
Tags: Karen Chhour Oranga Tamariki Minister for Children social workers child protection National Care Standards caregiver support children in care youth offending case management technologyGame On: Empowering Pacific Youth for Careers in NZ’s $750M Gaming Industry
5 months ago | 810 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry for Pacific Peoples is launching Game On, a $1 million program to support up to 57 Pacific youth into the $750 million gaming industry, addressing ongoing skill shortages. Delivered in partnership with industry leaders and NGOs, Game On offers school outreach, mentoring, internships, and studio visits to help Pacific learners explore STEM careers in real studio environments. The initiative aims to create long-term opportunities for Pacific communities and build on existing efforts to improve Pacific outcomes in STEM, with the first cohort starting training in July 2026.
Tags: Shane Reti Game On The Cause Collective PikPok New Zealand Game Developers Association Ministry for Pacific Peoples Tupu Toa Toloa programme Pacific youth STEM careersGovernment Boosts Funding for Smokefree Youth Music Programs to Promote Health
5 months ago | 861 viewsThe Government is increasing funding to $550,000 per year for the next three years to support Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats, youth music programs promoting smokefree and vapefree lifestyles. These events have been instrumental in encouraging creativity and wellbeing among young people for 36 years, contributing to a significant decline in smoking and vaping rates among youth. The 2025 editions achieved record participation and audience engagement, highlighting their effectiveness in reaching and influencing young people.
Tags: Casey Costello Smokefreerockquest Smokefree Tangata Beats Health NZ Associate Health Minister youth music programmes smokefree lifestyle vapefree lifestyle quit smoking campaigns government investmentViolent Crime Drops by 49,000 in NZ with Increased Police Patrols and Reforms
5 months ago | 1026 viewsSince the Government was elected, a tough on crime approach and nearly doubling police foot patrols have led to 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in New Zealand by October 2025. Key reforms include tougher sentencing, enhanced police powers, and coordinated efforts to reduce youth reoffending, resulting in significant drops in serious youth offenses and ram raids. Despite this progress, the Government remains committed to further law and order improvements, including new legislation to address disorderly behavior and strengthen trespass laws.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Mark Mitchell Karen Chhour New Zealand violent crime Police Oranga Tamariki Crimes Amendment Bill Three Strikes youth offending