Council is going down a new cyber path to try to capture the opinions of young adults in the Ashburton District.

The Youth Council will be replaced by a new digital engagement hub and face-to-face youth forums where school students will be invited to share their views on different subjects.

Councillors voted this week to implement the new arrangement for 2024, as the current youth council had come to the end of its term.

Group Manager of Democracy and Engagement Toni Durham said the youth council had existed since 2000 so it was timely to review the model and see if it was still the most effective way to hear youth voices.

“We’ve struggled at times to recruit young people to the youth council and while this year’s group is enthusiastic and capable and we thank them for their great work, they also represent a younger set.

“We hope that the youth forums involving schools will capture a wider range of views. By adding a digital engagement hub, we’re creating a space also for young adults who have left secondary school and could be working or training in the district, so have a different view again to teenagers.

“All their views are important and we think young people will be comfortable interacting online as they are digital natives and used to running their lives with a cellphone.”

Mrs Durham said the face-to-face youth forums would give councillors a chance to ask questions and engage with students.

“Ideally we want to show young people how local government works and how they can influence what happens in their district.”

Of the 67 territorial authorities in New Zealand, 34 have youth councils. Some that don’t have formed youth advisory panels, which sit alongside panels for seniors and ethnic communities.

The digital engagement hub will be launched in early 2024. It will be promoted via social media, schools and youth-focused community groups to attract a wide cross section of young people.

The youth council had an annual budget of $12,000 and was supported by council officers. That budget will now be a saving.