Be The Change
Getting vocal
Your voice is essential for the direction of New Zealand in the future. There are several pathways through which you have the power to talk about issues that are important to you, bring about change for the better and have a say in how the country is run and the government’s decision-making. Some of the pathways to get yourself heard include: Aotearoa Youth Voices Network This network gives you a chance to connect with other young people who have an interest in influencing government and community decision-makers, including the chance to have your voice heard. For more info or to join, click here. Local Youth Councils If you want to make your city, town or community better for young people, get involved with your local youth council. For a list of youth councils and more info on this, click here. Youth Advisory Groups YAGs are groups of young people who provide input or undertake tasks for organisations, services, or projects related to young people. You can participate meaningfully in things that affect you and helping organisations and services to get it right when working with youth. Youth Health Councils A Youth Health Council is a group of young people who identify, discuss and take action on key youth health needs for young people. They work together to identify, discuss and take action on health needs affecting young people. Youth Health Councils address a wide range of issues; mental wellbeing, bullying, fitness and exercise, healthy eating and nutrition, peer pressure, stress, relationships, service gaps, youth rights and much more. Social Networking Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, email, online petitions and blogs are a great way to rally together others who agree with your cause, publish your point of view, raise awareness of an unrecognised issue, get support or donations for a cause or organise large protests. For more info on how to start an online petition, click here . |
Voting
Did you know?! New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in 1893 after two decades of campaigning by Kate Sheppard and other women. Why should I vote?
When can I vote? Generally, to vote you need to:
I think I’m eligible to vote… what do I do next?
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Volunteering
Benefits of volunteering
I’m keen… but what should I get into?
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How do I know what opportunities are out there?
What about volunteering overseas? Volunteering overseas can make travelling a really meaningful and significant experience, where you build connections with the locals and other volunteers overseas Check out Volunteer Service Abroad for more info. |
Discrimination
Racism stems from the unknown.
It’s easy to criticize what is foreign to us (because we can let our imagination run wild without knowing that what we are being told or what we hear is wrong) and at the same time, this element of the unknown can be used to create fear amongst whole groups of people, and cause them to see other ethnic groups as a threat to what they see as ‘normal’ and ‘stable’. The Human Rights Act 1993 also says it is against the law to discriminate or treat someone unfairly based on their…
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Why does being on the receiving end of racism suck?
How do you know if you’re being discriminated against?•If you are feeling really judged, if there are comments, jokes or they assume certain things about you because of any of the above characteristics or if there are offensive, repeated and unwanted behaviours of a sexual or racist nature, then chances are, you are being discriminated against. How can we combat racism? What to do or someone you know think you might be discriminated against
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