New Youth Advisory Group off to a strong start
Published on 30 September 2026
Left to right: Back row – Jemma Sayles, Morgan Turton, Chenuli Hettige-Dona, Louisa Laiman, Patricia Tukana. Front row – Diara Sketchley, Grayson Sutherland, Kendall Hucker (Chair). Absent – Janné Loots, Jack Parsonage.
Earlier this year, we welcomed 10 new members to the Youth Advisory Group, and they have already hit the ground running. Since joining, the group has been meeting regularly, getting to know how Council works, and making a meaningful contribution to Council’s mahi and our communities.
Our Youth Advisory Group plays an important role in bringing the perspectives of young people from across the District into Council planning and decision-making. This helps ensure youth voices are heard so that Council can better reflect their needs and aspirations.
Through their lived experience, energy and fresh perspectives, members are also building their understanding of how Council operates while identifying the issues that matter most to them as a collective.
So far, the group has been building its understanding of how Council works, identifying shared priorities, and preparing a submission on our Long Term Plan.
Members are also taking part in Mō Āpōpō, a course that helps them understand and apply processes for working through important issues, strengthening their ability to advocate effectively for young people in the Whangārei District.
Councillor Phoenix Ruka and Councillor Nicholas Connop support this group in their roles as liaison elected members, ensuring the group’s perspectives are heard and considered.
That growing confidence and capability is already showing in practical ways. Youth Advisory Group Member Grayson Sutherland successfully secured funding through the Whangarei District Council Youth Week Fund and, with support from Volunteering Northland, he worked with a group of young people from across the community to create a series of civics education videos. The videos are designed to help young people understand how to enrol to vote, how democracy works, and why robust debate matters.
Please join us in welcoming the new members, who have been appointed for a three-year term and are committed to strengthening the voice of young people in Whangārei. How awesome are they!