Youth Rap Conference

Timberlands Conference Centre, Tokoroa

Your Worship the Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

Thank you for the invitation to your Youth Rap Conference.

I think it is great that you have all come together to map out and plan for the future of young people in South Waikato.

I'd agree with the sentiments of the quote, "The only way to predict the future is to invent it". (Alan Kay, Futurist)

Already, there is heaps happening out there in terms of people starting to work with young people. But I'm sure we all still hear the constant cry by young people "there is nothing to do here". This is sometimes true, and when it is my message to young people is to go out there and make a noise about it. In some cases though, it's just difficult to find out what is happening, what you can do, where you can go to do it, and what support already exists.

In order to help tackle this, I've decided to call a Youth Summit within the next twelve months. I will invite politicians, councillors, youth workers, officials, policy analysts and, most importantly , young people to focus on young people and how Government can work with them, and what needs to be done to better coordinate services for.

We'll look at policies, legislation and practices, what's available for young people, support services, and we'll try to create much better networks within the youth field, to ensure better coverage and awareness of what's out there.

The final aim of the Youth Summit is to create a vision for youth. A vision for the year 2020. That vision will belong to young people, and will guide not only Government work through the next millennium, but will also guide what is happening at a local level. This will be about a partnership, because Government can't do it on its own. It will be about a partnership between Government, business, local government, community groups, youth organisations and young people.

"Partnership" is not a vague or woolly notion. It is a powerful and effective tool for the common good that involves the Government, the voluntary sector, business and the community. It also involves different generations.

In my mind the essential element of youth work is the positive interaction between an adult and a young person. It is vital that young people are aware where they can find a safe confidant to discuss their issues, or to know where to go to find someone who can help them.

Similarly, it is important that young people are encouraged to work together. We're all aware of the importance and value of peer work. Certainly peer pressure can be a negative thing, but when used positively, it can have great effects.

I recognise that very often being a youth worker can be tough, and at times isolating.

Information sharing, co-ordination, ideas and services can be shared if we work together in creating a better place for our young people.

Your Conference today is one step towards that, and I would suggest that as Youth Workers, you should be meeting on a regular basis and working together.

I am aware of the excellent work that the Aotearoa Youth Workers Collective are focusing on, and I'm sure that their efforts will provide positive results.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs is a useful place for youth workers and young people alike. They are able to provide a vast amount of information about people's different success in youth work, government policies affecting young people, and how to enable young people to have their say and affect the direction of government policy.

The Ministry is primarily a policy focused Ministry, providing the government with information and advice on the effects of their policies on young people. For example, any government policy that could have an impact on those aged 12 - 25 must be put to the Ministry of Youth Affairs for comment.

Areas that I and the Ministry are currently working on include;

developing a national youth suicide prevention strategy,
youth crime prevention,
Conservation Corps programmes,
compulsory superannuation,
a drug and alcohol policy,
youth employment and benefit issues.
The recent Youth Parliament was another project of the Ministry, and it proved to be a great success.

120 young people descended on Parliament and took the seats of real MPs for 2 days. They took part in select committees, questioned Ministers, held a general debate and also debated a specific mock Bill.

The Bill that was debated, if introduced by the real Parliament, would ensure parity between the unemployment benefit and tertiary student allowances. The Bill succeeded, by 58 votes to 50.

Everyone involved had a great time, and debate in the house was electric. But it was electric in a different way from the real house. The young people were debating their issues, and they were debating them without stooping to the personal attacks that characterise normal proceedings in Parliament. We heard some very intelligent, constructive and passionate speeches. It was an awesome experience for the young people involved, and for me.

I think the funniest part of the Youth Parliament was watching some of the Ministers squirm at the questions that were fired at them, and hearing Paul East, the Attorney General, claim that it was harder than the real thing!

Many people thought that the Youth Parliament would just be a tokenistic effort and a clamber for publicity. They couldn't have been further from the truth.

The first Youth Parliament debated the drinking age, with a real diversity of opinion expressed. They voted to lower the legal drinking age to 18. That debate informed the Ministry of Youth Affairs submission to the Liquor Advisory Committee. And then, only a few months ago, Doug Graham announced that it had been recommended to lower the drinking age to 18. We are now likely to see that enacted into law within a year. It was youth participation in action.

The issues canvassed in the 1997 Youth Parliament were varied. As well as student allowances, the Youth MPs spoke on youth suicide, relationship programmes, self esteem, the value of young people, youth participation, employment and role models.

We all need to acknowledge that some things could be better for young people and we all need to play our part.

Young people want to be listened to, and they want to have a say.

Oscar Wilde claimed that he was, "... not young enough to know everything". Perhaps he was right, and we should be leaving much more of the decision making to young people?

It is essential that we allow them to have that say, and that they're empowered to turn their ideas into action.

I think we need to find new ways of reaching those young people who need assistance in making the transition to adulthood.

And in so doing so we need to recognise the talent that lies within each person, even those who seem the most alienated. To do that we have to be accessible, available and responsive.

We have to be sure that young people are finding their way in the world, and that when they look in the mirror they are able to recognise the reflection that stares back at them.

I'd like to think that I am fairly "switched on" to the needs, desires and aspirations of young people. And one thing I'm very aware of is the need to avoid putting all young people into one single group. There are dangers inherent in labelling us as one clear social group, and attaching a stereo-typical image.

Young people are far too diverse for that. Let me paint a picture.

Some young people feel alienated from the rest of society and their sense of self worth isn't always strong. Some of that has to do with the biological processes of growing up, but it can also be attributed to a number of other factors. Access to information, access to trustworthy confidants, a lack of pride in ones culture, for example.

Add to that the fact that our parents are probably working harder and longer hours than ever before, the world is increasingly competitive and we don't quite match those, "beautiful people" we see on TV and in films.

The result? A crisis of perception. Where do we fit in this world? Are we worthwhile? And who cares anyway?

In contrast, there are some young people who appear overly confident. They're up with play, thriving at school or in work and having a blast of a time socially.

Those people still have the occasional moment of self-doubt but on the whole, they're ok.

So, young people can fit anywhere in that spectrum. They might have body piercings, op shop clothes, designer labels, dreadlocks or a shaved head. Who knows? They are enormously diverse.

It seems to me that the majority of adults are still quick to generalise and judge a teenager by appearance. Someone with a mohawk is instantly thought to be violent and dangerous, someone into grunge is seen as dirty and a drop-out whereas someone well dressed is immediately seen as honest and sweet.

We need to accept people for who they are, believe in them and encourage them to grow into the adults they want to be.

In selling his cars, Henry Ford claimed that all Fords were alike, but that no two men were alike. Maybe he was a bit of a futurist in saying,

"Every new life is a new thing under the sun; there has never been anything just like it before, never will be again. A young person ought to get that idea about themself; and should look for the single spark of individuality that makes them different from other folk, and develop them for all they are worth. Society and schools may try to iron it out of him; their tendency is to put it all in the same mould, but I say don't let that spark be lost; it is your only real claim to importance".

" The problem with young people today" is a phrase I hear a lot.

"Girls...guys... music... alcohol... drugs... money... cars - the youth of today have all the typical teenage worries, with a few more added on. The future, for one. For young people in the 1990s the future seems more uncertain with each passing year. The world is moving so fast who can say where we will be in five years' time?"

"Most teenagers feel that they are misunderstood and hard done by, especially by the older generation."

"It may surprise some people to find that teenagers today are still hopeful. Despite the media often dismissing youth as a lost cause, there is a thriving spirit after all. Perhaps it is a type of rebellion, after all that is what teenagers are best at!!"

"It is important that adults, especially parents, do not distance themselves from the youth of today. We are, after all, the society of tomorrow."

"The Government need to act more purposefully when it looks at the issues that affect young people. Empty promises are no good; we want results."

Some excellent thoughts. It may surprise you, but I've just read out 5 quotes from young people!

They are infinitely more perceptive than they are ever given credit for.

This is their view of the world today and who are we to argue? The issues of today are different from those of the past. That's why we can't say, "the problem with young people today is..." because each generation is different.

This is why I believe we need to give young people a chance to participate and have their voice heard.

That is what youth work is all about. Letting young people do it themselves, and helping them turn their own ideas into action. Whether that's as part of a youth organisation, in a school or government.

The learning that occurs in being part of a team, chairing a committee, lobbying for change, working on a project, meeting others and having to take responsibility is quite immense.

The concept of responsibility is very important. We frequently hear about the rights that young people have, but how often do we front up about responsibilities.

If we want to take young people seriously, they have to be responsible, and I guess, they also need to be allowed to be responsible.

We all face many challenges.

As young people we are challenged with the transition of childhood to adulthood, and having to battle with the 'norms' that seem to be placed upon us.

As youth workers we have to balance the needs of young people with that of development and what they really want to do. Youth workers have a responsibility to encourage young people to develop in a safe and healthy environment, while challenging them to make a difference for themselves and others.

I too face many challenges! The job of Youth Affairs Minister is fairly challenging as it requires me to look across many areas, and ensure that we are creating an environment that caters best for young people.

I am in Parliament to represent young people, and to do that I need to hear from you.

I can't do it all by myself, so I need you all to work and ensure that we are creating a safe, healthy and enterprising New Zealand for our young people to grow up in.

ENDS