This is rather long – but the bio info is background info for anyone wanting to pick up on interviewing the guest speakers – phone numbers follow.

Nelson Anglican Diocese and City - Celebrating 150 years together

The focus moves to the future as Nelson continues to celebrate being a city for 150 years. The fledgling township was declared a city in 1858, when Queen Victoria made it the seat of the first bishop. Today’s Bishop, Richard Ellena, on the last stages of a commemorative 40 day walk, says the historical focus of the celebrations has been a springboard for two public forums.

“Looking back at our beginnings 150 years ago has enabled us to look more confidently to the future,” he said. “We are now offering two public forums, one on youth and one on faith, as a contribution to the future of Nelson in two critical areas.”

The first forum is called ‘Youth and the Future - What builds resilience, belonging and hope in Nelson’s young people?’ Forum organiser Mark Chamberlain says it will be led by Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft and parenting guru Ian Grant.

“Conversations about youth today tend towards drugs and alcohol, truancy, sexual activity, ‘at risk’ behaviour and violence, but is this a true picture?” he said. “Many young people are making a great contribution to our region, but there are others who don’t feel they have a place or a voice. The forum is an opportunity for a focussed discussion on these issues.”

The second half of the forum will involve a panel of mainly local people involved in youth issues to give a Nelson context. The two guest speakers will be asked questions by panellists and the MC (Joshua Moore aka Spanky) will sum up with suggestions for outcomes and a way forward.

The second forum is called ‘Faith and the Future – what is the public role of faith in Nelson’s future?’ and is lead by Christchurch Bishop Victoria Matthews and Greg Fleming from the Maxim Institute. Mark Chamberlain says it will look at the role of faith in a modern liberal democracy.

“We’ll be looking at issues such as the conditions where faith may have a voice in the public domain and at the role of faiths other than Christianity.”

Youth and the Future will be held at the Nelson College for Girls’ assembly hall in Trafalgar St on Tuesday 31 March, 7:30 - 9:30pm. Faith and the Future is at the Nelson Cathedral on Wednesday April 8, 7.30 – 9.30pm. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge for either forum.

The 150th celebrations wrap up with a commemoration service on April 24 at 7pm in the Cathedral to mark the Installation of Bishop Hobhouse as the first Bishop of Nelson. The guest preacher will be the Rt Rev John Pritchard of the Diocese of Oxford in the UK, where Hobhouse came from.

Bio on speakers follows plus scroll down for event summary.

Youth forum:
Ian Grant is the founder of Parents Inc and presents parenting seminars throughout the country. He is an inspiring and entertaining speaker and is well-known in New Zealand through radio and television. For 33 years Ian led a youth organisation involving thousands of teenagers in weekly club programmes, camps and large youth events. He is well known for the creativity and innovation in his programmes and this comes through in his approach to parenting.

Judge Andrew Becroft was appointed Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand in June 2001. He graduated from Auckland University in 1981 and practised in with an Auckland law firm and the Mangere Community Law Centre. He then worked as a criminal barrister in South Auckland until his appointment to the Wanganui District Court in 1996. Judge Becroft is currently the Patron of the New Zealand Speak Easy Association Inc., which assists those with various forms of speech impediment, President of the NZ Tertiary Student Christian Fellowship and a strong advocate of youth issues.

Local panellists:
Darney Takao (Te Atiawa, Ngati Toa, Ngati Rarua, Ngai Tuhoe) has been involved with the youth sector for over 20 years in Canterbury, Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay. He is the Programme Manager and Co-Founder of Darnz Hip-Hop Salsa Crew Inc, a Health Promoter for the Health Action Trust Community Action Youth Alcohol and Drugs project and an instructor for Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower Trust. A father of six, stepdad of one, foster dad of 3 and grandfather of two, Darney brings plenty of experience to the youth sector.

Megan Lewis is 17 years old and brings a youth perspective to the panel. She is an active member of the Nelson City Youth Council and an enthusiast for dance, drama, kiwi music and helping to make life more entertaining for the youth of Nelson. At Garin College she represented the school in Shakespeare Nationals, Stage Challenge and in various other speech and drama competitions.

Senior Sergeant Ross Lienert, Family Violence and Youth Services Coordinator – Tasman Police District

Lee-ann O'Brien, currently employed by Counties Manukau District Health Board as program manager for the Youth Transition Project, working with clinicians and service managers to develop models of care, provide training in adolescent health and policy development. Clinical roles include health assessments for first time youth offenders. Recent work with Nelson Marlborough District Health Board with the Child Disability review, Maternity plan and Health2030. Volunteer role: initiated and coordinate Picton Youth Club-runner up in 2008 Community Trust Awards.

Faith forum
Bishop Victoria Matthews was the Bishop of Edmonton in Canada for the past 10 years and became Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch in August last year. Bishop Victoria grew up in a non-Christian home but when she was about 15 heard a voice saying ‘you are my beloved and you will be my priest. And I will never leave you or forsake you'. She knew it was the voice of Jesus and from then on was determined to serve God fully in the Anglican Church. She is 54 and is well known for her contemplative spirituality and her theological acumen.

Greg Fleming heads up the Maxim Institute, which he co-founded with Bruce Logan in 2001. Greg studied at Victoria University and began his career in finance as a chartered accountant before spending four years as General Manager of Parenting with Confidence (now Parents Inc). In July 2005, Greg received a Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award. He is married to Kirsty and they have four children.

Forum 1: Youth and the Future
Guest speakers: Judge Andrew Becroft, Ian Grant (parents Inc)
Date: 31 March
Time: 7.30pm (displays open 6.45pm)
Where: Nelson College for Girls Assembly Hall
Cost: Free

Forum 2: Faith and the Future
Guest speakers: Christchurch Bishop Victoria Matthews, Greg Fleming (Maxim Institute)
Date: 8 April
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Nelson Cathedral
Cost: Free

Commemoration Service
Guest Speaker: Rt Rev John Pritchard of the Diocese of Oxford (UK)
Date: 24 April
Time: 7pm
Where: Cathedral
Cost: Free

ENDS