School students gather for conference on Government Policy in Auckland

(Auckland) April 19, 2016 - Aotearoa Youth Declaration, a government policy conference for young people, is kicking off today with the support of the Minister for Youth Development, Nikki Kaye. Aotearoa Youth Declaration is an annual conference run by young people, to teach other young people about civic issues in New Zealand.

The conference has seen growth in the past few years with increasing support from Members of Parliament across the board, and a broader diversity of young people from all backgrounds in attendance. It involves four intense days of focus group discussions and debate on policy issues, aiming to simultaneously educate the attendees and give them a forum for their opinions to be voiced and heard.

The students gathered will produce a document called the 'Youth Declaration', which will comprise policy statements the 200 young people have written to represent their views on national issues. The Youth Declaration is published and presented to Members of Parliament, NGOs, businesses, and to young people, to act as a guide on the youth voice.

Conference Coordinator, Joshua Ramsay, says the conference and the Youth Declaration document are signs that the common stereotype of apathetic youth is false. "Aotearoa Youth Declaration shows that the best way to get youth engaged, is to give them someone who is willing to listen".

Aotearoa Youth Declaration is running from the 19th-22nd of April, at the University of Auckland.

ENDS

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