Youth encouraged to join emergency services
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Recruiting young people into emergency services is back on the agenda for two North Canterbury councils.
The Hurunui District Council is bringing back its Youth in Emergency Services camp in July, while the Waimakariri District Council is looking to replace its successful cadet programme with a Youth in Emergency Management course.
Youth in Emergency Services (YES) was a national programme to introduce young people to volunteering in emergency services, until funding ran out five years ago.
The programme is being re-introduced in the Hurunui district thanks to the efforts of the Hurunui Youth Council
‘‘I was informed about the YES camp concept last year when I took the lead on the emergency services portfolio,’’ youth council deputy chairperson and Amuri Area School year 13 student Sam Bush said.
‘‘I decided it was something worth looking into and, through our youth council processes, it was voted on to proceed and planning began.’’
The youth council has joined forces with police, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR), St John and the Red Cross.
Funding has come from the Ministry of Youth Development, the Rāta Foundation and Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM).
The YES camp will run during the July school holidays, from July 10 to 14, at the Hanmer Forest Residential Camp and is open to young people aged 16 to 19-years.
‘‘The camp is a good pathway for youth who are interested in becoming a volunteer or are looking at one of the emergency services as their future career,’’ Bush said.
‘‘It will provide them with an opportunity to experience some of what is involved with these organisations.’’
After running the YES programme for several years in collaboration with the Hurunui and Selwyn District Councils, the Waimakariri District Council’s CDEM team developed its own cadet programme.
But the programme became difficult to sustain during Covid-19, Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said.
‘‘It was an initiative that we were very proud to have developed, however, the past couple of years have provided a difficult environment in which to operate the programme.’’
Council staff reviewed it last year and decided they could not continue it in its present form.
‘‘After engaging with the cadets, their families and key staff, it was decided the best option would be to replace the CDEM cadet programme with a sustainable long-term programme for Youth in Emergency Management,’’ Gordon said.
The new initiative would run for eight weeks, instead of being run for the duration of the school year, with the potential to offer it up to four times a year.
The focus would be on Civil Defence training.
■ To apply for the Hurunui District Council’s YES Camp, go to hurunui.govt.nz/yescamp2023.
Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
Do you think it's inconsiderate for people to have lengthy phone calls on a bus? Vote in the poll, and add your comments below.
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64.4% Yes
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33.2% No
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Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz
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