Students plan for Bay’s future

Students throughout the Bay of Plenty are learning how to shape the region’s future through a special event in Papamoa this week.

Hosted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Youth Jam 2012 aims to give young people the opportunity to play a part in the in planning their local community.

Whakatane School student Brendon working on a population growth plan for the western Bay of Plenty.

Victoria Rhodes-Carlin, Jasmine McCracken, Namita Bhusal and Rakshya Karmacharya are busy planning for the region’s economic development.

This year around 60 students from secondary schools throughout the BOP attended the event at Pacific Park Christian Holiday Camp designed to foster environmental awareness, youth leadership and participation in civic issues.

The first day was spent learning about planning population growth in the region by using large floor maps.

Day two was about at career opportunities, community mapping and connecting with the council.

Regional Councillor Jane Nees says the event gives young leaders the opportunity to see how the region can be a part of their future.

“Youth Jam is all about hearing from youth what their sustainable vision for the future of the Bay of Plenty is.

“The students this year are passionate about where they come from and see the Bay as a part of their future.

“They identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in their areas and have come up with some really creative ideas for how we can sustainably develop as a region.”

This year students from Katikati, Tauranga Girls’, Papamoa, Kawerau and Edgecumbe Colleges, and Western Heights and Whakatāne High Schools took part in the event.

Western Heights School student Simone Stovey with Tauranga Girls’ College students Aurora Boyte, Maraea Ranui and Jan Kim.