IHIRANGI 
CONTENTS

TE WHAKATAKINGA  INTRODUCTION
TE WAWATA  VISION
TĀ MĀTOU TŪRANGA I TĒNEI WĀ  WHERE WE ARE NOW
NGĀ WAWATA  ASPIRATIONS
NGĀ MĀTĀPONO  PRINCIPLES
NGĀ HAEPAPA A TE KARAUNA  COUNCIL’S ROLE
TE HANGA TIKA Ā-RAUTAKI  STRATEGIC FIT
NGĀ URUPARE A NGĀ TAMARIKI ME TE HUNGA RANGATAHI  
WHAT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SAID
ARONGA 1: te waengapū o tō tātou taone  FOCUS AREA 1: Our central city
ARONGA 2: Hauora, puta noa i te taone  FOCUS AREA 2: Hauora across the city
ARONGA 3: Ngā tūāpapa  FOCUS AREA 3: The basics
ARONGA 4: Tō tātou hononga tahi  FOCUS AREA 4: You belong
ARONGA 5: Ngā huarahi  FOCUS AREA 5: Pathways
ARONGA 6: Te whai wāhi ki te panoni  FOCUS AREA 6: Participating in change
HE ĀPITIHANGA – TE MAHERE KŌKIRI KUA TOHUA (Mō ngā tau 1-3) 
APPENDIX: INDICATIVE ACTION PLAN (YEARS 1–3)

TE WHAKATAKINGA 
INTRODUCTION
Developing the Strategy for Children and Young People
The children and young people of Wellington are the future of our city. We have a diverse, youthful, creative and talented population who are motivated by the challenges facing the city, Aotearoa and the world. 

The Strategy for Children and Young People (the strategy) was developed during 2020 and 2021 through targeted consultation with children and young people, their families, whānau, and supporting government and non-government organisations, and through public consultation. The Council adopted the strategy on 5 August 2021.

The strategy details a vision that supports the wellbeing of children and young people in Wellington through the unique features of our place and qualities of our people. 
The Council would like to thank the Youth Council and members of Te Ahi o Ngā Rangatahi for their advice on the development of the strategy, as well as the hundreds of young people, their whānau and families who participated in consultation.
Government framework 
The strategy aligns with the 2019 Government framework for Child and Youth Wellbeing (the Government framework) and its six wellbeing outcomes that children and young people:
•	Are loved, safe and nurtured.
•	Have what they need.
•	Are happy and healthy.
•	Are learning and developing.
•	Are accepted, respected and connected.
•	Are involved and empowered. 
 
Council framework

The Council used the Government framework wellbeing outcomes above to have conversations with young Wellingtonians to understand where our focus areas in Wellington need to be. The scope of the strategy is for 0 to 24-year olds, who currently make up one-third of the city’s population. The strategy outlines six focus areas which will bring our vision to life and direct the work of the Council. It will help to guide council controlled organisations (such as Wellington Zoo, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, Experience Wellington and WellingtonNZ).  

The six focus areas are summarised as follows:

1.	Te waengapū o tō tātou taone/Our central city – making sure all children and young people feel safe and supported in our city at any time of the day. This includes the Council working with partners to develop a central youth hub or space where young people can hang out safely, connect with others and access support if they need it. 
2.	Hauora, puta noa i te taone/Hauora across the city – delivering spaces, places, performances and programmes that support the hauora, or wellbeing, of children and young people throughout the city. This places a wellbeing focus on the creative, recreational, sporting and environmental programmes we currently deliver for children and young people. 
3.	Ngā tūāpapa/The basics – working with others to ensure access to food, safe and healthy housing, and wrap around support when experiencing homelessness. This focus area acknowledges that we have children and young people in Wellington who are in need.
4.	Tō tātou hononga tahi/You belong – making the city welcoming and celebrating all of our diverse groups of children and young people. This focus area is about embracing biculturalism and making sure all of our diverse communities feel a strong connection and sense of belonging and can express who they are. 
5.	Ngā huarahi/Pathways – building life-long learners who have pathways to opportunities. This focus area recognises the importance of our libraries as places of learning and connection and that more can be done to connect young people to employment, learning or volunteering opportunities.  
6.	Te whai wāhi ki te panoni/Participating in change – helping young people take on the world starting with children and young people becoming actively involved in their local communities. This focus area is about amplifying the voice of children and young people so that they can influence the decisions being made on their futures. 
 
The way we will give effect to the strategy is outlined in a set of principles:
•	We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Council’s partnership with mana whenua and Māori in the outcomes we deliver
•	We ensure the foundations are in place for everyone to realise their aspirations
•	We work creatively and collaboratively with others for our diverse communities
•	We invest to deliver measurable results across multiple outcomes (economic, social, environmental, cultural)
•	We deliver outcomes to enhance the lives of current and future generations 
Action plan 

Implementation will take place through an Action Plan presented in this document, refer Appendix Indicative Action Plan (Years 1 – 3).  

The Action Plan, which supports the strategy’s six focus areas, sets out:
•	Areas of ongoing work that Council (including CCOs) already undertakes and delivers to the community
•	Actions that will require adjustments to existing projects, programmes and functions in order to deliver on the principles or direction in this strategy 
•	New projects or initiatives that need to be developed and implemented 
•	Areas where the Council will look to partner with others to achieve a desired outcome
A working group comprised of teams who deliver services within the scope of action plan will provide oversight and report to Councillors on progress against this strategy through the Council’s reporting processes. Work will continue to be undertaken in consultation with youth representatives and other key stakeholders including Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs). 

TE WAWATA 
VISION 
We support the wellbeing of children and young people in Wellington through the unique features of our place and qualities of our people. We want our children and young people to feel connected to Pōneke with a strong sense of belonging – helped by visible stories of mana whenua and Māori and celebrating the diverse Pacific and other cultures and communities living here. 
We want Wellington to be a place where children and young people, and their families, whānau or caregivers can enjoy quality time together. Wellington’s nearby green spaces and natural environment can provide opportunities to play, be active, protect the environment, and support mental and physical health and wellbeing. 
Our facilities and programmes will enable children and young people to learn, connect, compete, be creative and have fun. Safe, and inclusive and accessible places to hang out, and more family-friendly and accessible activities will make Wellington a better, cooler, more supportive place for children and young people. 
Nurturing our children and young people to be creative, life-long learners provides them with pathways to opportunities. We will leverage our status as the capital city and home to Parliament to empower young people to have a voice locally and nationally. Most of all, we want young people to be motivated to stay and contribute their talents and abilities to our workforce and our community, and to continue to call Wellington home.  
		The words of children and young people have been used in this vision. 
Wellington is a city known to support the wellbeing of children and young people so they are optimistic and self-confident. Under 5s in Wellington, and their families, whānau or caregivers, have fun places and safer streets and family events that everyone can access. And as they grow and explore, they enjoy mountain bike trails and skate parks, the vibrant waterfront, shops and space, and cheaper theatre and arts entertainment and clean public toilets. Most importantly, there are safe spaces to hang out and relax and get support if needed. Being home to Parliament, Wellington is a good place to stand up and fight for the environment, and there are heaps of opportunities to get involved in the community. As they look around, our children and young people see there are more green spaces and urban city gardens. There is less expensive housing, it is warm, affordable housing and there is plenty of it. We asked our Youth Councillors to describe a child or young person in Wellington 10 years from now and they described someone who:
•	feels safe biking
•	swims in pools and the ocean
•	cherishes the natural environment
•	holds a conversation in te reo Māori and has lots of knowledge about different cultures
•	has fewer financial stresses
•	accesses work, university, home and leisure within 20–30 minutes
•	runs and relaxes on a more vibrant waterfront
•	loves the strong café culture
•	has a lot of knowledge about what the Council and the Government do.	

TĀ MĀTOU TŪRANGA I TĒNEI WĀ 
WHERE WE ARE NOW
The children and young people of Wellington are the future of our city. We have a diverse, youthful, creative and talented population who are motivated by the challenges facing the city, Aotearoa and the world. This strategy focuses on the wellbeing of young Wellingtonians to support them in living happy and fulfilling lives in the city.
Children and young people (0–24 years) represent over 33% of the population who live in Wellington city. For the 10,300 under 5 year olds in Wellington city (2018 Census), positive early life experiences positively impact their future outcomes.  
This strategy is also mindful of the young people in the Wellington region who may visit, study or work here but live elsewhere. They also make an important contribution to the city and add to its vibrancy and success.
Wellington City Council already does a lot for children and young people
Wellington City Council (the Council) has not had a strategy for children and young people before. However, the Council already provides many programmes, facilities, events and attractions that support children and young people. These include:
•	Library collections and services
•	Parks, play spaces, and sports and active recreation facilities and programmes
•	Community development work (for the whole community and at-risk groups)
•	Family-friendly events, attractions and experiences with dedicated child and youth offerings 
•	Transport safety for schools
Wellington is well-positioned to enable easy, often free, access to the natural environment through a network of parks and environmental attractions like Wellington Zoo, Zealandia and Wellington Gardens. Major strategies such as Te Atakura (our climate change response), Let’s Get Wellington Moving (moving more people with fewer vehicles) and our Spatial Plan (responding to housing availability, affordability and quality issues) have a long-term focus that will support the future needs of today’s young people. 
Children and their carers need to have access to, and be supported by, a city that meets their needs, and this will benefit everyone. Demographic trends mean our young people will need to support a much larger proportion of older people in the population, so all young people will need to be active in a sustainable economy. They will need to be resilient in the face of climate change impacts and unforeseen events. This strategy means we will be doing more to respond consistently to youth concerns today so that we all have a brighter future.

NGĀ WAWATA 
ASPIRATIONS
In 2019 the Government launched a Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy and a programme of action with a particular focus on reducing child poverty.  We have used these wellbeing objectives for our conversations with young Wellingtonians to understand where our focus areas in Wellington need to be. We need to make the most of being a city that offers easy access to nature and creativity, and is the home to Parliament, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, national institutions and so much more 

NGĀ MĀTĀPONO 
PRINCIPLES	
While the Council is concerned with the wellbeing of children and young people in Wellington City, many of the barriers to achieving wellbeing will need to be addressed by others. The Council will apply the following principles as we work to improve wellbeing. 
We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Council’s partnership with mana whenua and Māori in the outcomes we deliver
Fundamental to the success of this strategy is the forming of partnerships with mana whenua and Māori to understand their desired outcomes and how we can best work together to achieve them.
For tamariki and rangatahi, applying this principle will mean taking a whānau-based approach and ensuring our interventions are designed in a culturally appropriate way for Māori. 
We ensure the foundations are in place for everyone to realise their aspirations
Foundations can be hard infrastructure (such as facilities and physical assets) or soft infrastructure (like people capabilities, information and programmes) and are resources for improving wellbeing.
The Government framework clearly identifies the foundations that are needed for children’s and young people’s wellbeing (such as places to play and express themselves creatively) and can be used as a basis for applying this principle. Tools that the Council use include the District Plan, open spaces and recreation strategies, reserve management plans and agreements, the Play Spaces Policy and libraries plans. 
We work creatively and collaboratively with others for our diverse communities
The Council is just one entity and needs to work with others effectively to make things happen in the city. We want to be innovative and try new ways of working with central government agencies and the diverse population in Wellington (particularly Māori, Pacific peoples, other ethnic groups, d/Deaf and disabled people and rainbow communities) in a way that works for them. 
Strong partnerships are needed when addressing social wellbeing for young people because social issues are complex and the Council does not have the ability or scope to cover all aspects of these issues. We need to understand the specific barriers to access at a detailed level – for example, the needs of austistic children will be different from the needs of physically disabled children, and accessibility needs to be considered for different perspectives and contexts. 
We invest to deliver measurable results across multiple outcomes (economic, social, environmental, cultural)
Many place-based, local government initiatives result in multiple benefits and this principle will encourage us to broaden our approach to understanding value.
A good example for young people is offering learning to swim programmes, which results in gaining life skills, improving physical fitness, opportunities to connect socially, understanding water safety and indirect economic benefits through related spending on water-based activities.
We deliver outcomes to enhance the lives of current and future generations 
This principle acknowledges that how we operate today impacts on outcomes for current and future generations. Applying this principle to our work means better engagement with young people to understand the longer-term consequences of decisions made today.
Young people have high levels of environmental awareness and are very interested in seeing action to reduce carbon emissions and use our natural resources in a more sustainable way. Supporting schools to visit our environmentally focused council-controlled organisations (CCOs) – Wellington Zoo and Zealandia – and Wellington Gardens presents good learning opportunities for children and young people about influencing the future state of the planet. 

NGĀ HAEPAPA A TE KARAUNA 
COUNCIL’S ROLE
The Council cares about the wellbeing of all people and communities in the city. Our Social Wellbeing Framework outlines our different roles in influencing outcomes, and these also apply as we support children and young people.
We acknowledge that families, whānau, schools, the community and the hundreds of organisations that work with children are also vital. 
Here are examples of work we are already doing for children and young people in our different roles. 
Provider
Providing libraries, play spaces, and sports and recreation facilities and programmes. 
Funder
Granting funding to groups who support at-risk youth or better health outcomes, such as Zeal, Evolve, Youthline, The Toimata Foundation (Enviroschools). 
Partner
Working with others to support target groups to participate in active recreation (including Leisure Card partners and the Shift Foundation).
Facilitator
Supporting community activities and promoting active participation, such as Neighbours Day or predator-free initiatives or play days.
Advocate
Participating in forums with key government agencies and stakeholders, such as the Wellington at Night forum which includes government agencies, businesses, students’ associations and NGOs.
Regulator 
Enforcing harm-protection bylaws around alcohol.

TE HANGA TIKA Ā-RAUTAKI 
STRATEGIC FIT 
The Council has a number of strategies and policies in place to deliver our 2040 vision and improve wellbeing for the people of Wellington. This diagram shows a hierarchy of overarching city goals and a new community outcome framework that focuses on the four wellbeings. The current major strategies are outlined along with the policies and bylaws that have a direct impact on social wellbeing. 

NGĀ URUPARE A NGĀ TAMARIKI ME TE HUNGA RANGATAHI 
WHAT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SAID 
Within the broad age range of 0 to 24 years, it is very important to understand the diversity of views and needs within each age and stage. For the purposes of this strategy, the age group is segmented as follows:
•	Babies and preschoolers (0–5 years)
•	Primary school age (5–11 years)
•	Intermediate school age (11–13 years)
•	Secondary school age (13–17 years) 
•	Tertiary students (18 years +)
•	Young workers (18 years +)
•	Young parents (under 24 years)
•	Job seekers and young people not in education, employment or training (16 years +) 
Parents, caregivers and whānau provide insights on the needs of our babies and preschoolers. The best possible start in life is acknowledged throughout the Government framework. In the Wellington context, rising housing costs and the impact of this on the family’s budget can be a major source of stress. This situation is particularly challenging for single parent families, and families with children who have various access needs and disabilities. Access to Council facilities such as libraries and pools, as well as community events, is important for families with young children.
Access to play spaces and spending quality time with family, caregivers and friends were common themes from primary school age children. Exploring the city to experience new things is important to this group and there is a clear sense of what is fun in the city. Year 5 children already have good knowledge of wellbeing and the things they can do to improve it, such as the importance of exercise, spending time with family and friends, and creative activities (like writing, art, reading and music). 
Wellington’s waterfront, access to green spaces and beaches, and its compact nature are important to young people. Parks, pools, play spaces and fun things to do are valued by younger school age kids in Wellington. Access to facilities like pools and libraries and sports for all abilities are particularly important for children and young people with disabilities or other support needs.
Young people see Wellington City as diverse and friendly, but many also have concerns about discrimination against different groups. Young people want to see more te reo Māori in the city, and greater acceptance and respect for all the different communities in Wellington. 
What you told us about your wellbeing 
Engagement for this strategy in 2020 and recent youth-led research showed that Wellington children and young people have a strong sense of what wellbeing means and the types of activities and experiences that improve their wellbeing. Spaces to hang out, social connections (families, whānau and friends), exercise (including play and sport), technology-based games and entertainment, and eating well were the main ways young people listed as helping to improve their sense of wellbeing. 
The changes you want to see
The major ideas that were highlighted by young people reflected their age and stage but some common themes were expressed:
•	Looking after our environment – more green spaces, climate change action, less plastic, less fossil fuels, clean water and safe swimming
•	Getting around the city easily and on time 
•	More spaces (indoor and outdoor) for young people to safely hang out, play, ride bikes and skate
•	A greater range of events (cultural, music, sports) and programmes (such as ones that build skills)
•	Better public spaces and facilities – cleaner public toilets and colourful streets and buildings
•	Greater safety in the city
•	Helping people in need 
From 18–24 year olds, we heard about the need to improve housing quality and affordability, particularly if we want to attract and retain young people in the city.
ARONGA 1: te waengapū o tō tātou taone 
FOCUS AREA 1: Our central city 
All children and young people feel safe in the city any time of day
The first time young people visit the central city on their own or with friends is a big milestone. We want the central city to be a safe place for families, children and young people as they become increasingly independent. 
During the day, the vibrant waterfront presents recreation, play and learning opportunities for children and young people. At night-time, safety is important, particularly for our rainbow communities and women. A vibrant city with lots to do gives children, young people and their families plenty of reasons to visit and experience the city. 
More and more cities are recognising the need for central youth hubs and spaces where young people can go and hang out safely, connect with others and access support if they need it. Over 6,600 under 24 year olds already live in the central city and many more visit every day. As the city dwellings intensify, safe “third places” to go (that are not home or places of study/workplaces) will be increasingly important. 
Wellington has an existing strength in the arts and creative industries and these strategies will apply an innovative and creative approach to central city design. Significant projects like Let’s Get Wellington Moving and Central Library redesign will engage with young people and take their views into account.
Our approach 
•	Make the central city a safer place to hang out 24/7
•	Deliver more safe and inclusive spaces for young people 
•	Reflect the needs of children, young people and their families in city placemaking, development and investments, including accessibility. 
What you will see
•	Children and young people enjoy new and enriching experiences
•	Low crime rates in the city
•	Everyone feels safe in the city (particularly women and rainbow communities)
•	More options of safe places for young people in the city 

ARONGA 2: Hauora, puta noa i te taone 
FOCUS AREA 2: Hauora across the city
Spaces, places and programmes support the hauora of children and young people throughout the city
Play and creative expression are important for all ages but particularly for young children. They need time and space to just be themselves and play, explore and create. Quality time with a parent, caregiver, family or whānau can nourish and build self-esteem. Artistic performance, visual arts and creative experiences are known to improve mental health and wellbeing. 
Wellington offers a rich array of museums, galleries and places that cater for children and young people. Capital E is a centre for creativity for children and young people and the home of the National Theatre for Children.
Physical exercise is an essential part of being healthy and conveys many benefits – new life skills, social connection, physical fitness, technical sporting skills, self-esteem and good fun. Using active transport, for example walking, scooting or biking to and from school, is an important opportunity for physical wellbeing. 
Children and young people enjoy many traditional sporting and recreational activities (for example netball, soccer and rugby) but this can change based on age and stage and personal preferences. We need to be responsive to the new ways young people are choosing to be active and support play, active recreation and sport.  
Our natural environment presents many opportunities to improve physical and mental wellbeing, and this is an area children and young people have told us is important to them. Wellington Gardens, Zealandia, Wellington Zoo, the waterfront, parks and reserves all offer children and young people nature-rich environments to explore and enjoy. 
Our approach
•	Provide play spaces across the city and support play activation events, including accessible play spaces and events
•	Support new, existing, emerging or growing recreational activities that children and young people enjoy (such as skating, parkour, sand court sports, basketball, mountain biking, pump tracks, Shift and new technologies), and new and existing opportunities for disabled young people
•	Increase the focus on initiatives that give children and young people the skills and experience to look after the environment 
•	Partner with relevant agencies to improve access to parks, recreation spaces, performances and programmes to support mental health and wellbeing, 
•	Partner to deliver a safe,  inclusive, and accessible youth hub
What you will see
•	Children and young people enjoy new and enriching experiences
•	Physical wellbeing improved through high rates of active recreation participation
•	Reduced unmet need for mental health services
•	More people have easy access to high-quality play spaces and play activities
•	Higher satisfaction levels with Council facilities and Services
•	Improved access to nature-rich environments

ARONGA 3: Ngā tūāpapa 
FOCUS AREA 3: The basics
Children and young people can access food, safe and healthy housing, and wrap-around support when experiencing homelessness
Parents, families, whānau, agencies and the community all play a role in supporting children to have a great start in life. The Council can promote family wellbeing in much of the work we already undertake across the city. We offer many opportunities for quality family time – from free city events through to parks, beaches and public spaces around the city. 
However, many families are experiencing a rising cost of living (particularly housing costs) that is not matched by rising wages. Of the 113,800 children in the Wellington region, between 9,700 and 14,400 are living in poverty. We are interested in new ways of tackling this problem collectively and also ensuring there are plenty of hands holding out the safety net for young people if they are going through difficult times. An example is the new pilot programme with the Ministry of Social Development for at-risk youth, which gives young people free recreation time at the Council’s facilities so they can participate in a range of cultural and sporting activities. 
We will be a strong advocate for young people who are experiencing mental health distress. A central youth hub would provide a focal point for assisting with information and connection to services for young people in need. Removing the stigma associated with needing food would be an important role of a youth hub. 
Our approach
•	Advocate strongly on child poverty issues on behalf of the community
•	Facilitate solutions for young people who are experiencing homelessness
•	Improve the housing experiences of independent young people
•	Continue the City Housing community support work
•	Partner with relevant agencies on food security and encourage more kai markets across the city, suburbs and schools
What you will see
•	Reduced levels of child poverty in Wellington City
•	More options for young people before sleeping on the streets
•	High levels of compliance with new healthy homes regulations in Wellington
•	Increased satisfaction levels of City Housing families
•	Increased number of community gardens, māra kai and fruit trees in the city

ARONGA 4: Tō tātou hononga tahi 
FOCUS AREA 4: You belong
Wellington welcomes, celebrates and includes the diversity of all children and young people 
All children and young people need to feel accepted, respected and connected in Wellington. For tamariki and rangatahi our goal for Pōneke is to be a te reo Māori city by 2040. This will mean te reo Māori will be very visible in the city and the mana of te reo Māori in the rohe will be raised. Events and activities such as Rā Haka, waka ama and kapa haka respond to young people’s feedback that the city needs to embrace biculturalism. 
Multiculturalism is also important. We have many amazing groups of young people who will benefit deeply from showcasing their talents and abilities to the wider community. This includes our young Pacific people who want the opportunity to feel their identities are valued, recognised and supported in all spaces. [reference] Pacific Aotearoa Lalanga Fou, Ministry for Pacific Peoples 2018  
Young people who are disabled, rainbow communities, recent migrants and New Zealanders from a refugee background all face unique challenges. It is important that all young people can feel a strong connection to Wellington and a sense of belonging. 
This strategy acknowledges all of these groups and will promote and celebrate their talents and strengths. We want this aspect of Wellington to be a drawcard for families and young people to live, work, play and visit here. Continuing to acknowledge and celebrate events such as Matariki and Diwali will be an important commitment for events programming. 
Our approach
•	Partner with mana whenua and Māori to progress Te Tauihu the Te Reo Māori Policy initiatives
•	Offer inclusive and accessible events that encourage all children and young people to participate (family-friendly and U18 events)
•	Identify specific support and programmes for young Pacific people, migrants and refugees
•	Showcase young cultural performing arts groups and role models
•	Focus on family- and child-friendly domestic tourism that is affordable and accessible
What you will see
•	More te reo Māori speakers in the city
•	More whānau have the opportunity to participate in cultural activities
•	Strong sense of belonging 
•	High levels of participation in community initiatives 
•	Wellingtonians of all ages continue to value diversity and inclusion
•	Lower rates of online bullying
•	Support for cultural identities and languages
•	More domestic family visitors to the city
ARONGA 5: Ngā huarahi 
FOCUS AREA 5: Pathways
Wellington is a place that builds life-long learners 
The pathways for our young people are changing in response to new technologies, the future of work, employment opportunities and the changing world around us. 
COVID-19 has affected many young people’s study, work and travel plans, 
pathways and choices. We also know that the impacts of climate change will 
increase, and that young people are worried about this. Resilience and adaptability
 will be important skills for young people now and in the future. 
Building life-long learners means providing great libraries as places of learning and connections, and ongoing support for education/volunteering in the natural environment. It also means providing practical opportunities for young people to obtain life skills that will help them get work experience. A dedicated youth space in the central city could provide a focal point for providing information to young people to help them on their journey. Connecting young people to different types of opportunities and pathways also shows them that they are an accepted and valued part of the city. This is particularly true for our young people with disabilities, who often face multiple barriers to gaining meaningful employment.
Te Matarau a Māui is a regional strategy that plans to help rangatahi follow clear education and training pathways to employment. This strategy supports WellingtonNZ’s (our economic development agency’s) contribution to that mahi. 
Wellington has a strong tertiary education offering and this brings vibrancy to the city and a pool of talented young people looking for opportunities to contribute newly acquired skills. 
Our approach
•	Extend reach of libraries through a Youth Engagement Plan
•	Refurbish the Central Library to be a safe, inclusive, and accessible place for children and young people
•	Build a stronger strategic relationship with tertiary education providers to make Wellington a great place to study and live
•	Support young people to connect to diverse employment, learning or volunteering opportunities
What you will see
•	Higher usage of libraries by children and young people
•	Young Wellingtonians continue to engage with Wellington Zoo, Zealandia and Experience Wellington offerings
•	More young people choose Wellington as a place of further education 
•	More pathways available for young people 
•	Lower NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rate
•	Wellington attracts and retains 20–30 year olds to live and work here

ARONGA 6: Te whai wāhi ki te panoni 
FOCUS AREA 6: Participating in change
Young people taking on the world
Having a say, building collective action and being able to influence decisions has a positive impact on wellbeing. This can be at a school, local, national or international level. 
We are receiving more feedback from young people on subjects that are important to them through formal and informal channels. 
Young people have told us that they are worried about climate change, housing and employment opportunities in the future. They are also want issues of inequality addressed, for example period poverty. 
Digital inclusion is an essential part of enabling young people to participate in democratic processes. Digital literacy and critical thinking skills are important for active participation, but one of the fundamental barriers for some young people is the cost of internet access. 
Dedicated spaces, such as a youth hub, could support this outcome by providing information and making it easy for young people to have a say on important issues. 
Our approach
•	Make it easy for young people to have a say on Council’s decisions
•	Focus on digital inclusion at Council libraries and facilities
•	Involve young people in the design of aspects of the city that are important to them
•	Leverage our unique status as capital city to help empower young people
•	Ensure that harm-reduction policies and bylaws support children and young people to make positive choices
What you will see
•	Children and young people actively involved in their local communities
•	Greater involvement by young people in Council decision making
•	More schools from around Aotearoa visit Wellington.
•	More young people making positive choices around smoking, drinking, drug use and sex

HE ĀPITIHANGA – TE MAHERE KŌKIRI KUA TOHUA (Mō ngā tau 1-3) APPENDIX: INDICATIVE ACTION PLAN (YEARS 1–3)
ARONGA 1: Te waengapū o tō tātou taone 
FOCUS AREA 1: Our central city 

	Strategy	Actions	Provider	Funder	Partner	Facilitator	Advocator	Regulator	
1.1	Make the central city a safer place to hang out 24/7	Ongoing							
		Continue to invest in maintaining and creating new high-quality public spaces that are safer and more appealing to young people	
						
		1–3 years							
		Work with key stakeholders on delivering a Wellington at Night plan							
		Support more initiatives focused on educating young people on consent, such as Don’t Guess the Yes	
						
1.2	Deliver more safe and inclusive spaces for young people	1–3 years							
		Identify a suitable central city space for a youth hub (where young people will have access to activities and services) and report to the Grant’s Sub-Committee in December 2021.							
1.3
 	Reflect the needs of children, young people and their families in city placemaking, development and investments	Ongoing							
		Increase visibility of mana whenua stories, history, te ao Māori and communities in places and spaces (including digitally)							
		Involve creatives, mana whenua, young people and affected businesses in developing approaches to reduce the impact of construction disruption in the central city							
		1–3 years							
		New District Plan rules and design guides reflect the needs of children and young people	
						
		Explore opportunities for an indoor play space for children in the central city	

	
			
		Build a better understanding of placemaking and universal design for accessibility, including neurodiversity, dDeaf, visually impaired and for children with other access needs and disabilities, including the logistics of managing multiple needs and safety.	

ARONGA 2: Hauora, puta noa i te taone 
FOCUS AREA 2: Hauora across the city

	Strategy	Actions	Provider	Funder	Partner	Facilitator	Advocator	Regulator	
2.1	Provide play spaces across the city and support play activation events	Ongoing 							
		Continue to invest in parks and other public places and spaces that enable children, young people and their caregivers or families to play, be active and engage with the natural environment							
		Consider inclusion and accessibility when developing and redeveloping play spaces							
		Continue to invest in formal play spaces close to where families live							
		Develop playgrounds to support site storytelling through design, technology and bilingual signage							
		1–3 years							
		Complete Ara Moana waterfront playground at Frank Kitts Park, including bilingual signage							
		Continue to run play days across the city							
		Improve opportunities and information for Play Street activities as part of the Trading and Events in Public Places Policy review by identifying appropriate streets and better website information.							
2.2	Support new, existing, emerging or growing recreational activities that children and young people enjoy (such as skating, parkour, sand court sports, basketball, mountain biking, pump tracks, Shift and new technologies).	1–3 years							
		Improve information to connect young people to emerging opportunities							
		Develop a plan for social infrastructure that responds to community needs and growth							
		Ensure public space design supports existing and new skate facilities and the skate community is consulted							
		Develop understanding of appropriate measures to encourage and promote disabled sport alongside partner organisations such as Nuku Ora							
2.3	Increase the focus on initiatives that give children and young people the skills to experience or look after the environment	Ongoing							
		Review and expand environmental or conservation experiences for children and young people who lack access	

		Continue to activate the outdoor environment to build whole-self educational opportunities for young people: team, personal excellence, adventure	

			
		1–3 years							
		Evaluate Kids Greening Te Whanganui-a-Tara pilot							
		Continue outreach work with young people (such as Wellington Zoo programmes, Children’s Garden and Otari Lab)							
		Introduce a Wellington Zoo climate action focus through habitat design and learning sessions							
2.4	Partner with relevant agencies to improve access to parks, recreation spaces, performance and programmes to support mental health and wellbeing	Ongoing							
		Work closely with the school community (such as promoting Bikes in Schools and leveraging all available facilities)							
		Continue work on prioritising road safety for the journey to schools so that kids can walk, scoot, ride independently to schools.							
		Promote the work of Capital E to deliver new creative experiences to children and young people							
		Continue to work with Leisure Card partner organisations to make play, sport and active recreation accessible to all children and young people							
		1–3 years							
		Align grants funding objectives with the focus areas outlined in this strategy, for example to support initiatives that contribute to positive mental health and wellbeing							
2.5	Deliver more safe and inclusive spaces for young people	1–3 years							
		Identify a suitable central city space for a youth hub (where young people will have access to activities and services) and report to the the Grant’s Sub-Committee in December 2021.	

	

ARONGA 3: Ngā tūāpapa 
FOCUS AREA 3: The basics

	Strategy	Actions	Provider	Funder	Partner	Facilitator	Advocator	Regulator	
3.1	Advocate strongly on child poverty issues on behalf of the community	1– 3 years							
		Identify major areas of need in the city	
						
		Advocate with central government for policy initiatives that support an improved standard of living for Wellingtonians in need					
		
3.2	Facilitate solutions for young people who are experiencing homelessness	Ongoing							
		Establish interagency forum on housing for homeless in Wellington							
		1–3 years							
		Work with short-term accommodation providers to improve outcomes for at risk youth							
3.3	Improve the housing experiences of independent young people	1–3 years							
		Review the Housing Action Plan and consider student housing and rental quality issues in collaboration with universities and government agencies							
		Collaborate with Tenancy Services on new healthy homes regulations							
3.4	Continue the City Housing community support work	Ongoing							
		Support youth projects and programmes for young people living in City Housing							
		Develop and maintain play spaces for children and young people in City Housing							
3.5	Partner with relevant agencies on food security and encourage more kai markets across the city, suburbs and schools	Ongoing							
		Prioritise grants funding for organisations that provide food in a way that reduces the stigma of needing food		
					
		Support and celebrate community initiatives that build connections and promote food security							

ARONGA 4: Tō tātou hononga tahi 
FOCUS AREA 4: You belong

	Strategy	Actions	Provider	Funder	Partner	Facilitator	Advocate	Regulator	
4.1	Partner with mana whenua to progress initiatives that support tamariki and rangatahi	1–3 years 							
		Continue planned Te Tauihu Te Reo Māori Policy initiatives							
		Work with mana whenua and Māori to develop a plan to support the aspirations of tamariki and rangatahi							
4.2	Offer inclusive events that encourage all children and young people to participate (through family-friendly and U18 events)
	1–3 years							
		As part of youth hub development, consider how young people get information about what’s on in Wellington using the right channels and host events	

				
		Build an online, multilingual Welcome to Wellington pack for new refugee families (and consider expanding to all new migrant families and families with new babies)	

		Develop a new employee Inclusion Strategy to ensure we confidently and competently interact with the diverse communities we serve	
						
		Achieve Wellington Zoo Rainbow Tick accreditation	
						
		Work with Greater Wellington Regional Council on initiatives that support greater uptake of active transport and public transport modes by children and young people				

4.3	Identify specific support and programmes for young Pacific people, migrants and refugees	Develop actions in consultation with young Pacific people and refugee and migrant groups. 		

	
		
4.4	Showcase young cultural performing arts groups and role models 	1–3 years							
		Continue to focus on inclusiveness through Capital E theatre and performing arts work							
		Provide events programmes to showcase young kapa haka and cultural performing arts groups							
4.5	Focus on family- and child-friendly domestic tourism that is affordable and accessible	More active promotion of Wellington as a family friendly destination							
		Work collaboratively to build Wellington's reputation for providing great learning opportunities outside the classroom (eg NZ history, creativity and performance, politics, conservation)							

ARONGA 5: Ngā huarahi 
FOCUS AREA 5: Pathways

	Strategy	Actions	Provider	Funder	Partner	Facilitator	Advocator	Regulator	
5.1	Extend reach of libraries through Youth Engagement Plan	1–3 years							
		Explore whether fees and fines may be a barrier to access for children and young people

		Consider longer opening hours in response to youth needs including participative events, discussion forums	
						
5.2	Refurbish the Central Library to be a safe and inclusive place for children and young people	1–3 years							
		Central Library – children and young person spaces designed with young people to create a place to be and do	
						
5.3	Build a stronger, strategic relationship with tertiary education providers to make Wellington a great place to study and live
	1–3 years 							
		Bring together tertiaries, local business, and practitioners to build career pathways in priority areas (for example, the tech sector, screen, gaming, trades and the environment)							
		Work in partnership with tertiary institutions to attract domestic students to Wellington							
		Collaborate with stakeholders on student safety initiatives as part of the Wellington at Night plan							
5.4	Support young people to connect to employment, learning or volunteering opportunities
	1–3 years							
		Run a Council event for Year 12 and 13 students on careers in local government (including CCOs)							
		Support Te Matarau a Māui regional initiatives for rangatahi through WellingtonNZ, for example a Māori Youth Forum							
ARONGA 6: Te whai wāhi ki te panoni 
FOCUS AREA 6: Participating in change

	Strategy	Actions	Provider	Funder	Partner	Facilitator	Advocator	Regulator	
6.1	Make it easy for young people to have a say on Council decisions
	1–3 years							
		Develop easy ways to make a submission							
		Promote Youth Council in new and creative ways, particularly in schools							
		Start relationship building and build trust with diverse groups of young people							
		Hold an event for young people to provide their views each triennium (such as a Youth Summit)							
6.2	Focus on digital inclusion at Council libraries and facilities	1–3 years 							
		Continue Digital Inclusion initiatives at Wellington City Libraries (such as through the National Library programme and Digital Inclusion Alliance)							
6.3	Involve young people in the design of aspects of the city that are important to them	1–3 years							
		Review design principles to include better mechanisms for youth voice in design of public spaces and play spaces							
		Explore ways to build a forum for rangatahi (such as a Māori youth caucus)							
6.4	Leverage our unique status as capital city to help empower young people	1–3 years							
		Advocate to lower the voting age to 16							
		Introduce a Wellington Zoo climate action focus through habitat design and learning sessions							
		Explore youth-led ways to listen to young people through the arts and cultural expression, build youth voice and identity, and celebrate talents							
6.5	Ensure that harm-reduction policies support children and young people to make positive choices	Ongoing 							
		Align with policy work programme and bylaw reviews and engage with young people