One year after opening its doors as a prevention and 'post-vention' resource for youth, 'Kimi Manaakitanga', the Play. Stay. Grow. Hub in Hamilton's central city, is thriving.

At a time when the government is standing up bootcamps, Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust’s kaupapa is proving its effectiveness as a viable, cost-effective alternative community solution.

“For half a million dollars a year, we can run a youth hub that caters to at least 1200 whānau walking through the door,” said Dr Nicole Coupe, Chief Executive of Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust.

The social return on investment is extraordinary when compared to the government’s $5.1 Million funding allocation for a pilot military style boot camp catering to 10 children starting at the end of July.[1]

Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust encourages all Parliamentarians, public service officials and policy makers to come for a site visit to learn about why the pro-social pathway works with rangatahi.

Hon. Willow-Jean Prime, Spokesperson for Children, Youth, Associate Education (Māori) will be visiting the hub at 79 Norton Rd on Monday 15 July at 10.00am.

“We’ve had over 1400 walk-ins since we opened and the numbers are increasing month on month,” Dr Coupe said.

It reconnects rangatahi to their identity, to a safe supportive and respectful space that’s open 24 hours 7 days a week that the rangatahi are responsible for.

'Kimi Manaakitanga also counters the Police Minister’s mindset of removing youth out of the community, “it’s much safer for the community not to have them there” he’s told reporters previously.[2]

Recently Dr Coupe has returned from visiting youth hubs in LA and in Vegas where it clearly showed New Zealand is ahead of the game internationally.

“We've got an opportunity here through treating rangatahi as part of our community, to listen to their needs and wants, and embrace, enable and empower them.”

“They bring the innovation, they bring the vibe, and they bring the colour.”

Kimi Manaakitanga is an entirely youth lead program designed and governed by a committee of rangatahi themselves.

“That’s what they want. They want what they design. Not the programs that adults have designed and then told them to attend.”

[1] Source: NZHerald 23 June 2024 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/cruel-labour-greens-respond-to-new-youth-offender-sentencing-category-boot-camps/72YBEMID3BB2TNT66U34AJNEQY/#:~:text=New%20sentencing%20category%20for%20youth,offenders%20to%20military%2Dstyle%20academies.

[2] Source: NZHerald 23 June 2024 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/cruel-labour-greens-respond-to-new-youth-offender-sentencing-category-boot-camps/72YBEMID3BB2TNT66U34AJNEQY/#:~:text=New%20sentencing%20category%20for%20youth,offenders%20to%20military%2Dstyle%20academies

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