Young people in East Auckland are getting their own space in the Botany Town Centre.
Supported by the Howick Local Board, Te Tuhi, Botany Town Centre and driven by the Howick Youth Council, Youth Space has been designed by and for youth.
“Howick Youth Council members have always made a valuable and significant contribution to our local communities, and we are sure they will make sure the voice of our young people is heard from this new space,” board chair Adele White says.
Outside of schools, clubs and cultural organisations, there are no venues where local rangatahi can come together for activities
Youth Space will be a place for them to connect with their peers, in a safe space.
“This is a great opportunity for our young people to have a space that’s uniquely designed for youth and run by youth,” Howick Youth Council co-chair Thomas Donnell says.
“We think creating a place like this is important because there aren’t many places in our community where young people can just hang out for free and meet new people their age outside of school.”
The drive that has culminated in Youth Space began when the youth council asked the local board to consider providing a dedicated youth facility in the area.
After a few false starts caused by Covid, the space is finally opening as a three-month pilot programme, with the hope it can become permanent.
“Young people have been telling the Howick Youth Council they wanted a place in the community to call their own. Since 2014, former youth council chair Ben Fraser says.
“We’ve been working with the board to make that a reality and we’re thankful for its ongoing support and for being willing to back the ideas of rangatahi."
Youth Space opens on Saturday 9 April and will be open 9am-1pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and see the space and chat to the youth co-ordinators of the project.
Youth Space will operate from 9 April to 24 June, at The Lane in Botany Town Centre from 3.30-6pm Monday-Friday and 9am-2pm on Saturday. Opening hours will change for April’s school holidays
For more information, contact Ashley Grogan at Ashley@tetuhi.art or 021 184 5639.
