WHAKATANE YOUTH ACTION PLAN

Trialling new approaches to social sector change

(July 2013-June 2015) WHAKATANE TOWNSHIP working across sectors to better support our YOUTH

02 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Contents

The Social Sector Trials 04 Governance and Management 07 Whakatane - Our Community 08 Developing the Action Plan 09 What our Young People and Community Say 10 Why we are Here 12 • Youth Truancy 12 • Youth Offending 12 • Youth Alcohol and Drug Use 14 • Youth Education, Training and Employment 15 • Services for Young People 16 The Action Plan 16 • Mission, Vision, Value and Guiding Principle 16 • Aims 18 What we are Going to Do 19 • Reduce Truancy 19 • Reduce Offending 20 • Reduce Alcohol and Drug Abuse 21 • Increase Participation in Education, Training and Employment 22 • Increase Collaboration, Coordination and Communication 23 Linkages with Other Initiatives 24 Evaluation and Monitoring 25 Beyond this Action Plan and Trial Period 25 Appendix 26 1. Community Consultation 26 2. Speak Up Whakatane Survey Responses 26 3. Community in Action Groups 29

July 2013 - June 2015 03 E nga rangaitra o te motu E nga kouroua E nga tumuaki E nga whānau E nga rangatahi Tena koutou katoa

E ai ki te whakatauki, ‘Ma te mahi tahi ka tutuki’, konei te haangai o tenei pepa whai mana mo nga rangatahi me o ratou whānau o te rohe nei. Nau mai mai, tautoko mai, mahi mai ki tenei kaupapa whakahirahira. No reira tena ano koutou katoa.

This document is a Social Sector Trial Action Plan that has been developed and agreed to by key stakeholders within the Whakatane community for the purpuse of working with and achieving positive outcomes for the youth of Whakatane.

It is a transparent document for the community to ensure commitments made are honoured. It is also a living document and may change as the Trial evolves over the two year period.

The Social Sector Trials The Ministries of Social Development, Justice, Education and Health, and the New Zealand Police are working together to trial a change in the way social services are delivered, through the Social Sector Trials programme. Whakatane Township has been selected as a new location for an initiative, the Social Sector Trials, which trials a new approach to social service delivery. The Trial in the Whakatane Township is focusing on improving outcomes for young people aged 12 to 18 years. The outcomes this Trial is seeking to achieve are: • reduced truancy • reduced offending • reduced Alcohol and other Drug (AoD) use • increased participation in education, training and employment.

Since communities possess huge capacity to understand how they can best look after each other, the aim is to support decision making at the local level, build on existing networks and strengthen coordination at every level of government and within the community. The Trials are intended to: • encourage organisations to work collaboratively • encourage innovative solutions to emerge at the community level • look at new ways of working to get better results • coordinate this information into an Action Plan which is implemented, monitored and evaluated in order to achieve impact on outcomes.

The Trials also test the ability of an appropriately mandated individual (committed individual) or Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) to use cross-agency resources to effect change in a community. For the Whakatane Township, the NGO approach is being trialled and WERA Consultants has been contracted to deliver the Trial.

04 Whakatane Youth Action Plan For the purposes of the Social Sector Trial, WERA Consultants Ltd.(WERA) plans social service delivery, manages contracts, oversees agency staff (as agreed with agencies), develops networks, engages with the community and influences social services (such as statutory services) outside of their direct control.

Forming an advisory group and developing this Plan are key elements of this model. WERA is the project manger of the Whakatane Social Sector Trials. This is supported by a partnership with Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust (WACT) which oversees a Youth Service in the Whakatane Area.

The Social Sector Trials were initially established for two years from March 2011 in six locations: Taumarunui, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti, Kawerau, Levin and Gore.

These six Social Sector Trials have been extended for another 16 months (until 30 June 2014), and in five of the locations, their geographical areas have been extended. This means that the original locations are now Taumarunui, Waitomo District, South Waikato District, Kawerau District, Horowhenua District, and Gore District.

Momentum around the Social Sector Trials is strong, and the evidence suggests that there are increased levels of cooperation, collaboration, transparency and accountability around programmes and services as well as progress towards impacts on outcomes.

Because of the impact of the Trials in the original locations, the Trials model has been expanded into ten new locations. Since 1 July 2013, Social Sector Trials, have also been operating in ten new locations including the Whakatane Township. The nine other communities are Kaikohe, Ranui, Waikato District, Rotorua District, Gisborne City, South Taranaki District, Wairarapa (Masterton District, South Wairarapa District, Carterton District), Porirua District, and South Dunedin. These Trials will run for two years.

July 2013 - June 2015 05 Tony Bonne, Mayor of Whakatane “Whakatane is a rural coastal community in the Eastern Bay of Plenty that is rich in culture, history and natural beauty.

We have been chosen as a site for a joint ministerial initiative called the Social Sector Trials. The trials allow for the communities involved to lead how issues should be addressed in their own community.

The Whakatane Trials is focussed on supporting youth aged 12-18 to remain engaged and progress towards their goals. This action plan represents our communities voice, vision, and hope for our most precious treasures, our youth, and our collective future.

I welcome you to the Whakatane Social Sector Trials where we are working together for our families and whānau.”

06 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Governance and Management National Governance The Chair of the Cabinet Social Policy Committee (SOC), Hon Tony Ryall, has ultimate responsibility for the Social Sector Trials.

A Ministerial sub-committee provides oversight and decision-making for the Social Sector Trials. The Ministerial sub-committee is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, Chair of the Cabinet Social Policy Committee (and Minister of Health), Minister of Education, Minister for Social Development, Minister of Police, and Minister of Youth Affairs.

A Joint Venture Board, comprising of the Chief Executives of Social Development, Health, Education, Justice and the New Zealand Police, acts as a governance group for the Social Sector Trials. The Chair of the Joint Venture Board is the Chief Executive of Social Development.

A Director: Social Sector Trials is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Social Sector Trials.

Where bureaucratic, policy and legislative barriers exist, the ability to communicate directly with Ministers and Chief Executives is a remarkable feature of the Trials model.

Local Governance A local advisory group has been established, and will act as a mechanism for collaboration and communication and to ensure wider community endorsement and ownership of this Plan. The advisory group in Whakatane is made up of a team of stakeholders who represent decision makers and leaders.

Membership includes: • two youth representatives • Trident High School, Principal • Whakatane High School, Principal • Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Whakatane • Ngati Awa Iwi Representative • Work and Income Service Centre Manager • Child, Youth and Family Whakatane Site Manager • Family and Community Services Regional Relationship Manager • District Health Board, Senior Portfolio Manager • Ministry of Education, Service Manager Regional Operations – Special Education • New Zealand Police Whakatane Response Manager • Chamber of Commerce, CEO • NGO Representative, REAP CEO • WERA Consultant Ltd, Director, SST Manager • Whakatane Social Sector Trial Project Leaders

July 2013 - June 2015 07 Whakatane – Our Community The Whakatane District in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is one of the most diverse and beautiful areas of New Zealand with abundant beaches, farmland and forestry.1 It is a rural, and relatively isolated, community that is rich in history and culture with 42 percent of our citizens identifying as Māori.2

Whakatane Township is the focus of the Social Sector Trial and accounts for 18,750 of the district’s population of 34,500.3 Whakatane Township serves as the service hub and gateway to the outlying Eastern Bay of Plenty communities.

Whakatane is bicultural and, as for many other communities, families come from a variety of socio- economic circumstances, ranging from severe economic deprivation to affluence.

Whakatane’s youth population is larger than most in New Zealand ranking fourth in the nation for the percentage of the population between the ages of 10–16 years of age and second in the nation for the population of Māori youth 10–16 years of age.4

Given our rural location and range of socioeconomic experiences, many of our youth face a range of challenging realities in which they may need assistance to reach their potential.

“The trials are going to help youth involvement in our town and community” Nikora Rangi, year 12 at Whakatane High School

08 Whakatane Youth Action Plan “Youth will benefit from participation in positive activities, and interaction with role models in our community”

Developing the Action Plan Community participation and input was very important to the development of this Action Plan. In order to identify the needs of youth in Whakatane, we consulted with our wider community around the reality faced by our local young people.

Our process included: • consulting over 600 community members, key local stakeholders and over 50 organisations (see appendix 1) • facilitating six community consultation hui • an online survey called Speak Up Whakatane (see appendix 2) that garnered 530 responses, 340 of which were by young people, and 181 from Māori

We used this feedback and local and national statistics to identify the needs in our community around the Trial goals and to serve as the foundation to the Action Plan.

1 http://www.whakatane.com/whakatane-district, September 2013 2 2006 Census 3 Subnational population estimates at 30 June 2012”. Statistics New Zealand. 23 October 2012. 4 NZ Police Outcome Rankings 2009-2011

July 2013 - June 2015 09 What our Young People and Community Say According to our community consultation, the following is what Whakatane’s youth and community have shared views about:

Truancy: • Patterns of truancy can start early (age 5 or 6) • Intergenerational patterns of benefit dependency, substance abuse, bad school experiences and gang membership can all contribute to truancy • Identifying and supporting our youth and whānau around the importance of staying in school should start earlier • Schools need to be more family-friendly.

Offending: • Youth offending is often drug and alcohol related • Alternative activities and other opportunities are lacking in Whakatane • There are lots of negative role models and gangs • There’s a need for positive places for youth to feel they belong, that provide them with things to do, and more interactions with positive role models

Alcohol and other Drugs (AoD): • Alcohol and other drugs are easy for youth to get • There is a lack of alternative things to do • They are part of our culture • Some youth fall through the cracks due to inflexible rules and criteria that make it hard for the different social service agencies to work together to help individuals.

Education and Jobs: • Whakatane needs more jobs • Many families have to travel long distances to work leaving many children to raise themselves • Youth want work experience and work skills as part of schooling • Youth felt earlier career assessment and information tailored to their interests and goals would help • Education needs to be more individualized, hands on, and made relevant for more youth to engage.

Biggest Issues facing young people in Whakatane5: • Alcohol and other drug use (51%) • Gang influence (31%) • Lack of employment (29%) • Violence (29%) • Boredom (28%)

10 Whakatane Youth Action Plan What we want: • Happy, active and healthy youth and families • Empowered, safe, connected youth, families and communities • Positive things to do • Early, relevant, flexible and individualised supports and services.

5 2013 Speak Up Whakatane Survey Responses. Survey respondents were able to select more than one issue.

Community Goal: Positive, active, connected youth and families

July 2013 - June 2015 11 Why we are here Youth Truancy The majority of students in Whakatane are engaged in education and are doing quite well. Twenty- five percent of our youth population frequently truant, some of whom are totally disengaged from education. Local schools take attendance seriously and have systems in place to help address truancy, but may benefit from more in-depth assistance and support to address the underlying issues that may be contributing to our truant and disengaged youth. Across our district we currently have 1.5 FTE Attendance Advisors who carry a caseload of more than 100+ students (at any one time) and cover a large part of the Eastern Bay.

Percentage of students who are truant or unjustifiably absent (rate per 1,000 student absences which are not explained)

Area Whakatane National Avgerage

District unjustified absences 5.5 2.3

District frequently truant 2.0 1.0

Truancy amongst Year 7 and 8 students 3.6 2.3

Unjustified absences amongst Year 9 students 7.3 2.3

Unjustified absences amongst Year 10 students 8.5 2.3

Unjustified absences amongst Year 11 students 9.9 2.3

Unjustified absences amongst Year 12 students 13.3 2.3

Table data: District and national data is from an unpublished report by Ministry of Education Whakatane, year level data is from unpublished reports from Whakatane Intermediate, Trident and Whakatane High Schools for Term 2, 2013.

Youth Offending Youth offending has been decreasing in Whakatane since 2009 due to a focus on prevention and alternative action. Local organisations and iwi are working closely together to address youth offending. A focus on youth who are at risk of becoming offenders and early intervention with these youth and their whānau is making significant progress on our youth offending statistics and, more importantly, for our at-risk youth. Programmes like the Ohe Ake project in particular that wrap services around our most at-risk families should further enhance these reductions and help the majority of our youth to stay out of the justice system.

12 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Whakatane Youth Offending Statistics

Area Whakatane July 2012 - June 2013

Number of youth apprehensions 542

Number of youth offenders 386

Youth Court cases 51

Youth Justice Family Group Conferences6 77

Te Kooti Rangitahi (marae youth court) appearances 24

Te Kooti Rangitahi (marae youth court) re-offenders 4

Table data: Apprehension and offender data is taken from unpublished reports from NZ police and the court data is from an unpublished report from CYF Youth Justice.

6 Youth Justice Family Group Conference is a family and professional meeting process resulting in a shared plan to address underlying causes of offending, holding the youth accountable, and righting the wrong for the victim.

“We want young people to reach their potential, have a strong sense of identity and be resilient”

July 2013 - June 2015 13 Youth Alcohol and other Drug Use Through information and education around responsible use and the effects of drinking and driving, there has been a huge shift in the general youth culture around responsible use. Our local Police have indicated that there has been an almost 50 percent decrease in youth drinking and driving offences in the last three years.

The use of alcohol and other drugs was highlighted as the number one issue faced by our youth in our Speak Up Whakatane survey (48% of youth, 55% of Māori, 51% of all responses). The community consultation painted a picture of many of our youth being bored and lacking access to or funding for alternative activities.

Youth Alcohol and other Drug Statistics

Area Whakatane Whakatane Whakatane Whakatane July 2009 - July 2010 - July 2011 - July 2012 - June 2010 June 2011 June 2012 June 2013

Number of youth alcohol offence apprehensions 16 20 7 15

Number of youth drug offence apprehensions 30 29 20 22

Number of youth offenders for drink/drive offences 52 42 35 23

Number of youth clients seen for AoD treatment 14 between April –June 2012

Percentage of 15–19 year old survey respondents 71% who “thought it was okay to get drunk sometimes”

Table Data: Apprehension and offence data is from unpublished report from NZ Police, AoD treatment is an unpublished Statistic from Bay of Plenty District Health Board Voyagers Child and Youth Mental Health Service, survey response data is from the NZ Health Survey 2009.

14 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Youth Education Training and Employment Most of Whakatane’s youth are engaged and progressing in their education. Sixty seven per cent of the youth surveyed in the Speak Up Whakatane survey indicated an interest in gaining work experience as part of school to help them towards employment. Yet the recent world economic downturn has affected the employment landscape of Whakatane. Jobs in general, and jobs after school for youth in particular, are in short supply. For many youth and families, they must commute outside of our area to find gainful employment and to participate in many tertiary qualifications.

Youth Education Training and Employment Statistics

Area Whakatane National Avgerage

Number of District student expulsions7 5.6 1.6

Number of District student suspensions 7.7 4.7

Percent of District students with less than level 1 enrolled in youth 13% 19% guarantee

Percent of students still at school at age 17.5* 48% 61%

School leavers below NCEA level 2 qualification* 50% 38%

Percent of 15 –19 year olds not in education or employment (NEET) in 18% 13% Whakatane District

Percent of youth population with no qualification in Whakatane District8 32% 25%

Youth unemployment rate (age 15–24)* 19.5% 13.2%

Average percentage of young people on benefit (age 16–24)* 10% 8%

Number of youth in Correspondence School for exclusion in 20139 15 n/a

Number of second chance learners in Correspondence School in 201310 30 n/a

Table data: District data is from the Education Counts website for Whakatane District, October 2013* data is from the Ministry of Youth Development Youth Statistics site, October 2013, correspondence data from an unpublished report from the Correspondence School.

7 Expulsion is when students over the age of 16 are removed from their school 8 2006 Census 9 Exclusion is when students under the age of 16 are removed from their school but they are required to continue with their education 10 Second Chance Learners are students who return to education after a long absence

July 2013 - June 2015 15 Services for Young People Whakatane is fortunate to have many social, health and education services that provide valuable support to our youth and community. Some of our youth are being let down by a lack of collective planning and vision. Complex funding and contracting arrangements can sometimes limit our services ability to address the underlying challenges our youth and whānau face. Addressing these underlying issues is key to helping all our youth progress.

Through our consultation process, youth said they feel that they do not have enough of a voice in our community outside of the school setting. There are limited leadership and mentoring opportunities and a lack of positive events and activities to help keep our youth positively engaged.

To address these issues, change needs to happen at both the central government and local levels. The Social Sector Trials provide the opportunity for our community to voice and address these needs. The Whakatane Youth Action Plan articulates our voice and needs, and aims to increase coordination and collaboration towards achieving real and meaningful results for our young people.

Vision, Mission, Values and Guiding Principle To help guide the Whakatane Social Sector Trial’s efforts, the Advisory Group drafted the following vision, mission, values and guiding principles.

Vision Connected engaged communities providing a positive future Hei whakakotahi i nga hapori kia anga whakamua

Mission Working together for our families and whānau Ma te mahi tahi ka whai hua nga whānau

Values

Courageous Honest Te māia me te manawanui Te mahi tika

Respectful Inclusive Te whakawhiwhi hōnore Kai roto

Successful Te whai hua

16 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Guiding Principle To guide the focus of our Action Plan, we acknowledge that as much as we would like to, we may not be able to help everyone. So our Plan’s actions will focus predominantly on the top twenty percent of youth who may require earlier intervention or more intensive supports to achieve and progress.

Will need intensive, individualised, wrap around services to progress 5 - 10% of youth and families

Will progress with earlier targeted intervention, 10 - 15% mentoring, and support of youth and families

80% of youth and families Will do fine with regular supports, positive messages, and proactive policies, procedures and staffing

July 2013 - June 2015 17 Aims Based on our community consultation, our action plan has the following four overarching aims that will contribute to its success.

Aim 1 - Community groups work together to better support our youth and whānau The Social Sector Trial is founded on coordination and collaboration. How well our Action Plan is implemented will be dependent on how well the community, organisations and professionals can come together to effectively help our youth and families in a sustainable manner. Our aim therefore is to see our NGOs, Iwi and government services effectively collaborating and coordinating to better support our most vulnerable youth and families towards active engagement in our community.

Aim 2 – Focus on early intervention and active youth / family engagement Through consultation, our community has voiced a perception that many current interventions for our youth do not meet the needs or are not provided early enough for our most at-risk populations. There is a strong and consistent call for a more comprehensive, holistic and individualised approach where the youth is the center of our actions. Making services and interactions relevant, understandable and linked to the youth’s interests and goals is seen as paramount to that youth engaging with services, professionals or in education. Our aim is to promote early, active and effective engagement and support to our most vulnerable youth and families.

Aim 3 – Promote access to activities and options for our youth and families Youth have begun to voice issues of boredom and a lack of safe and affordable activities. Furthermore, the number one issue they are facing is alcohol and drug abuse. Responders stated that a good way to combat this was through providing low or no-cost activities to occupy young people. Another focus area is career assessment and planning. Fifty-four percent of Speak Up Whakatane youth survey responders felt career assessment tailored to their interests and goals would help, while 25-34 percent of survey responders felt mentoring would help them towards employment. Given these findings, our aim is to ensure that young people and their families are aware of and can participate in safe and engaging options that support their health, wellbeing and provide pathways to positive future opportunities.

Aim 4 – Promoting a positive community and culture Whakatane is fortunate in that we have many positive initiatives, role models, and amazing outdoor opportunities that we can build upon to strengthen our youth, families and community. Our community consultation process highlighted a desire to celebrate our successes, positive role models, and initiatives and to build upon the good work that is occurring.

To engage our youth and wider community in supporting the trial goals and celebrating positives, we have included the promotion of a positive community culture as an underpinning theme in the Action Plan. Our aim is to make our community aware of the Trial goals and collectively engaged in supporting them through effective marketing and promotion throughout the whole Whakatane community and, in particular, in its higher risk areas.

18 Whakatane Youth Action Plan What we are going to do: 1. Reduce Youth Truancy Strategic goals: • young people are supported by their school and families to stay engaged in their education • our community is collectively engaged in strategies to support our young people to reach their potential

Success measures: • increased level of co-ordination across agencies that address truancy • high risk young people and their families are identified and assisted to resolve the underlying issue behind non-attendance

Action Milestone Resposibility

Develop and apply 1. By March 2014, Principals to have agreement on consistent Lead: consistent definitions definitions of attendance and absences. This will be shared School Principals and measurements with the Principals Association with the aim of all district Key Partners: of truancy across the schools aligning how they use the reporting systems to better Truancy Group, schools. identify and support students at risk for truancy. Principals Association

2. By June 2014, expand the anti-truancy zone from Kopeopeo Lead: Expand the Truancy-Free to the entire Whakatane township (target is 80% of Truancy Group Zone. businesses to sign up). Key Partners: Chamber of Commerce, WDC

3. Starting November 2013, ensure interagency collaboration Lead: Identify and support and processes to identify and provide support to youth and ETE Action Groups youth at risk for truancy whānau at risk of truancy and disengagement. Key Partners: from as early a stage as 4. By July 2014, establish an Early Intervention Screening Ministry of Education possible. Process to identify youth and their whānau at risk of high (MoE), Truancy levels of truancy/ disengagement at intermediate school. All Action Group, MSD/ Year 7s screened by March 2015. FACS, Work and Income 5. By May 2014, wraparound support is provided to the top 20 Trial school youth and whānau at risk of disengagement. 6. By April 2014, review Social Worker In Schools contract with the aim of providing recommendations for how it could be delivered to better address youth needs across the district.

7. By May 2014, institute a “Its Not Okay to Miss a Day” Lead: whānau support pledge initiative to provide all whanau of Truancy Group Work with schools and non attending youth with information re: the importance and families to support Key Partners: benefits of their youth attending school. young people to High and stay engaged in their 8. By June 2014, increase FTE for attendance advisors to Intermediate education. address underlying issues contributing to youth truancy Schools, MoE (target is 2.5 FTE). 9. By February 2015, review current Alternative Education pathway. Identify and where appropriate, implement new alternative education opportunities to best meet the needs of our youth.

July 2013 - June 2015 19 2. Reduce Youth Offending Strategic goals: • youth crime is managed and prevented within the community • youth offenders / whānau have opportunities and support to address their offending and develop restorative pathways • young people are reaching their potential, have a strong sense of identity and resilience

Success measures: • fewer young people enter the justice system for offending • increased opportunities for young people to be positively engaged and supported in the community • Iwi are actively engaged in the prevention and early intervention efforts.

Action Milestone Resposibility

Youth offenders and their 10. Starting November 2013, ensure interagency collaboration Lead: families are provided and processes to provide information and support to Youth Offending restorative support at as offending youth and their siblings / families as a form of Team early a stage as possible. early intervention and prevention. Key Partners: The 3 Trial Schools, Iwi, CYF / YJ

Enhance Iwi partnerships 11. By May 2014, expand an Iwi Alternative Action Initiative Lead: that support the early (like “Oho Ake”) across Iwi and township to provide wrap Youth Offending intervention and active around supports to offending youth and their families. Team engagement of youth/ 12. By August 2014, establish and promote an Iwi family Key Partners: whānau at risk of offending. group conference process to support increased whānau Iwi engagement and ownership of the restorative justice plan and activities. 13. By May 2015, offer and provide to 100% of families appropriate support before their youth return home from rehabilitation and residence programmes.

20 Whakatane Youth Action Plan 3. Reduce Youth Alcohol and Drug Use Strategic goals: • young people have access to quality health education and health services regarding alcohol and drug use • young people and families have access to healthy alternative activities to alcohol and drugs.

Success measures: • increased community awareness of strategies to protect young people from alcohol and substance abuse • a coordinated approach to educating and providing alcohol and drug use prevention support to all young people.

Action Milestone Resposibility

Provide targeted AoD 14. Starting November 2013, create a Youth AoD Abuse Lead: support and education to Prevention Action Group to increase coordinated youth AoD Action Group youth and their whānau. AoD prevention services and supports. Key Partners: 15. By October 2014, implement Youth-led Student Against Schools Drunk Driving activities to include drug driving. Actions in previous pages will also contribute to this outcome area: Actions #4, 5, 13

Ensure our community is 16. By April 2014, consult with at least 150 young people at Lead: supporting the health of our each of the Trial schools around desired activities that AoD Action Group young people and providing would be alternatives to binge drinking and drug use. Key Partners: alternatives to binge drinking 17. By June 2014, facilitate a community stock take of Community in Action and drug abuse. accessible and affordable activities and youth friendly Group, Schools spaces. 18. By October 2014, implement an ‘After 5pm Bus’ to enable youth to participate in positive after school activities. 19. By November 2014, promote activities to youth and community through various media and result in an Annual Activities Expo.

Partner with business 20. By May 2014, host a members event to investigate Lead: community to promote “No business support for “No AoD abuse in our town” Chamber of AoD Abuse in our Town.” messages. Commerce Key Partners: AoD Action Group, EBPHA

July 2013 - June 2015 21 Increase Youth Education Training and Employment Strategic goals: • all young people in Whakatane are positively engaged in education, training or employment • as a community, we are building our capacity to effectively engage with a diverse range of young people.

Success measures: • there is sufficient variety and number of developmental, training and employment opportunities • increased Māori participation in education, training and employment • young people are work ready and aware of opportunities in Whakatane.

Action Milestone Resposibility

Help young people towards 21. Starting November 2014, ensure interagency Lead: their goals. collaboration and processes to support students ETE Action Group successfully transitioning from secondary into training, Key Partners: tertiary, or employment High Schools, WACT, 22. By May 2014, those youth in school at risk of Eastern Bay Cluster, disengagement, or are currently disengaged, are identified Work and Income, and transition / career planning is completed relevant to Intermediate School their interest and goals. 23. By May 2014, relevant career education is provided to intermediate and secondary schools.

Increase educational and 24. By May 2014, the Chamber of Commerce will host Lead: work opportunities. a members event around the Trial with the aim of ETE Action Group expanding work experiences and opportunities for youth. Key Partners: 25. By November 2014, 15 employers will be identified and Chamber of supported to work with disengaged youth. Commerce, WACT, Work and Income

Keep young people engaged 26. By February 2015, open a Teen Parent Unit to better Lead: in school longer. support young mums and their bubs to remain healthy ETE Action Groups and engaged. Key Partners: The Truancy Actions will also significantly contribute to this MoE, Truancy Action outcome area. Group, MSD/FACS, DHB Work and Income

“Supporting youth and their whanau to ensure young people are given every opportunity to succeed”

22 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Support Collaboration, Coordination and Communication Strategic goals: • to develop a community voice, ownership and responsibility to address locally identified needs • enhance coordination and collaboration between schools, organisations and the community • to advocate for changes that make services for young people and their whānau available, more effective and efficient • to increase access, promotion and awareness of positive activities, messages and role models in our community.

Success measures: • the community is actively engaged and engaged in youths’ lives • the community is aware of and supporting the Whakatane Youth Action Plan.

Action Milestone Resposibility

Ensure the development 27. From November 2013, ensure Advisory Group meets at Lead: of opportunities for least monthly. Social Sector Trial strong coordination and Lead 28. Starting November 2013, Quarterly Youth Networking collaboration. forums are promoted to support youth service and Key Partners: activity coordination and collaboration. WACT 29. By February 2014, ensure the Community in Action Groups meet monthly to serve as multipronged response groups. 30. By February 2014, create and promote Whakatane Service Maps to be used as visual directories by local services.

Communicate with the 31. By February 2014, the Social Sector Trial will use a variety Lead: community regularly of media to communicate regularly with the community Social Sector Trial about the Youth Action Plan around trial progress and messages. This is to include Lead progress. launching a Trials facebook page, website, phone Key Partners: application and providing quarterly newspaper articles. Action Groups

Build capacity of youth 32. Starting February 2014, investigate, collaborate, promote, Lead: related organisations provide strategic support and source funding for youth SST and meaningful youth related services and programs that support positive youth Key Partners: opportunities. engagement. Action Groups, Work and Income

This plan represents a new foundation and long term commitment to continue to partner with our community and work together for the good of our young people and their families. The outcome of this will be what a youth group mentioned when asked, what they would want to see as an outcome of this plan: “Whakatane, a place where everyone wants to be” - Salvation Army Youth Groups’ Vision

July 2013 - June 2015 23 Linkages with other Initiatives There are a number of community initiatives, projects and strategies that link with this Action Plan through shared outcomes. Potential combinations between these strategies and this plan will provide a good foundation for combined outcomes. This may be through regular communication and information sharing and/or coordination of activities within the community. Key contacts within the Advisory Group will help to facilitate this process.

Local community projects and intatives include: • Mataatua Sports • Youth AoD Exemplar Service • Strengthening Families • Nurses in Schools • Youth Gaurantee • Youth Networking Forum • Whakatane Community Hub • Trades Academy • School Career Expo’s • Youth Offending Team • Take the Lead, Sport BoP • WDC Youth Council • 3 Tiered Truancy Forums • Rangatahi Court • WDC Youth Strategy • Teen Parent Unit • Iwi Alternative Action • Parents Families Whānau • Mayors task force for jobs • Gateway • Teenage Homes Project

The Trials and the local initiatives complement many national initiatives, such as: • Turning the Tide • Prime Minister’s Youth • Youth Guarantee • Whānau Ora Mental Health Project • Positive Behavior 4 Learning • Community Action on Youth • Drivers of Crime • Youth Crime Action Plan and Drugs • Nurses in Schools • Strengthening Families

“The trials will provide an opportunity to improve the town for our youth and give them a voice” Kahu Kutia, year 12 at Trident High School

24 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Evaluation and Monitoring National Evaluation and Monitoring Trial leads provide written reports to the Director: Socail Sector Trials, which allows for ongoing monitoring of the actions in the plans by Ministers, the Joint Venture Board and key govenrment officials. As a group, Trial leads meet with the Director: Social Sector Trials regularly, which also provides for sharing information of what is working locally and creating a community of good practice for the Trials.

At a national level, an evaluation of the first two years of the Trials has been undertaken by the Ministry of Social Development in partnership with other agencies. The findings from the evaluation can be found at http://www.msd.govt.nz/social-sector-trials

The evaluation of the new locations will consider: • whether the Social Sector Trials made a significant contribution to achieving the outcomes for the young people in each location • opportunities found when implementing the Social Sector Trials • whether the Social Sector Trials have led to a better system of service delivery • the similarities and differences between the two approaches (NGO and committed individual) the barriers to implementation. Local Evaluation and Monitoring Our Whakatane Social Sector Trial Advisory Board will review progress of the Action Plan intiatives and Action Groups on a monthly and quarterly basis through project management processes developed for the Trial. Feedback and statistics will be used to interpret and understand our findings and keep us on track with progress of our actions and updates on our outcomes.

Beyond this Action Plan and Trial Period During the consultation phase of the Trial, a number of suggestions were made about the scope of the Whakatane Trial that were out of scope for this Trial, but that could be investigated at a local level in the future. While the Trial period is for two years, the Trial Advisory Group members have committed to a five-year time frame in which periodically review and update the Youth Action Plan, to coordinate and encourage lasting change for our Whakatane youth and community. Some of the options that might be considered in future are to: • expand the age range of the Trial to 0–18 in order to increase the focus on early intervention. • develop a community-wide strategic plan for children and youth • expand using Early Identification Screening and supports at primary schools • provide a coordinated approach to activities, messages, and the provision of parenting education and supports • increase computer and internet access for all our youth and families to assist with increasing education and employment • investigate a joined-up approach for Social Sector Trials in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, or an expansion to other communities in our rohe.

July 2013 - June 2015 25 Appendix 1: Community Consultation Community organisations we consulted to get a wide lens of perspectives and feedback regarding the realities our youth face in Whakatane and potential actions for the Trial included: • Anamata • NZ Police • Voyagers • Atea Mauoha Trust • Ngati Awa Social and Health • WACT Youth Service • Autism NZ Services • Wairaka Kokiri • Bethel House • Ngati Awa Training and • Waiariki Institute of • Chamber of Commerce Tertiary Organisation Technology • Citizen’s Advice Bureau • Salvation Army • Whakatane Baptist Church Whakatane • Sports Bay of Plenty • Whakatane High School • Community Mental Health • Recovery Solutions • Whakatane Intermediate • Child, Youth and Family • Relationships Aotearoa School • Eastbay REAP • Pou Whakaaro • Work and Income • EBOP Trades Academy • Salvation Army • Youth Horizons Trust • Family Focused • Te Ao Hou Trust • Youth Justice • Family Works • Te Kaokao o Takapau • Whakatane Youth Offending • Life Education Trust • Te Puna Ora Mataatua Team • Linkage / Web Health • Te Wananaga o Aotearoa • Seventh-Day Adventist • Housing NZ • The Correspondence School Church • Metal Tech • Trade Education • Ministry of Education • Trident High School

Appendix 2: Speak Up Whakatane Survey Responses Outlined below are the percentages of youth, Maori and the wider community who, through an online survey called “Speak Up Whakatane”, answered questions about going to school, keeping out of trouble, decreasing alcohol and drug use and getting young people into employment.

Survey respondents were given a range of options to choose from for each of the questions listed below.

What do you think would help Whakatane youth to go to and stay in school (not wag school)?

Youth Voice Māori Voice General Voice

• 57% Offer Free lunches • 54% More hands on and outdoor • 51% Education is connected to learning offered at school students’ interests and dreams • 52% More hands on and outdoor for their future learning offered at school • 54% More sports and fun offered at school • 47% More hands on and outdoor • 51% More sports and fun offered learning offered at school at school • 52% Education is connected to students’ interests and dreams • 43% Free lunches • 46% Celebration days at school for their future for 80% attendance (concerts at • 39% Celebration days at school lunch, sausage sizzle, fun day) • 51% Free lunches for 80% attendance • 44% Education is connected to • 48% Celebration days at school • 38% More sports and fun offered students’ interests and dreams for 80% attendance at school

26 Whakatane Youth Action Plan What do you think would help youth not to get in trouble (offend) as much?

Youth Voice Māori Voice General Voice

• 68% Increase teen employment • 67% Increase teen employment • 64% Increase teen employment options options options • 57% Increase activities available • 57% Increase activities available • 58% Increase activities available before and after school before and after school before and after school • 40% Work w/ gangs to promote • 47% Work w/ gangs to promote • 42% Mentoring positive change positive change • 40% Work with gangs to • 31% Mentoring • 37% Mentoring promote positive change

What do you think would help youth to decrease their alcohol and drug use?

Youth Voice Māori Voice General Voice

• 58% More Activities offered that • 68% More Activities offered that • 62% More Activities offered that are youth and family friendly are youth and family friendly are youth and family friendly • 52% Decreasing access to drugs • 52% Decreasing access • 55% Decreasing access to drugs and alcohol in Whakatane to drugs and alcohol in and alcohol in Whakatane Whakatane • 46% Making PE or after school • 38% Making PE or after school sport mandatory in all years of • 56% Making PE or after school sport mandatory in all years of school sport mandatory in all years of school school • 36% Ads around town promoting • 30% Ads around town promoting healthier alternatives (eg. hike • 31% Ads around town promoting healthier alternatives (eg. hike bird walk, go kayaking, bike ride) healthier alternatives (eg. hike bird walk, go kayaking, bike ride) bird walk, go kayaking, bike ride)

What do you think would help youth get jobs in Whakatane?

Youth Voice Māori Voice General Voice

• 67% All students do work • 66% Increase youth jobs or • 71% Increase youth jobs or experience as part of school apprenticeships offered in apprenticeships offered in Whakatane Whakatane • 66% Increase youth jobs or apprenticeships offered in • 64% All students do work • 64% All students do work Whakatane experience as part of school experience as part of school • 54% More Career Classes / help • 58% More Career Classes / help • 54% More Career Classes / help offered tailored to students offered tailored to students offered tailored to students interests and goals interests and goals interests and goals • 38% Career information and • 37% Career information and • 34% Career information and pathways given earlier in school pathways given earlier in school pathways given earlier in school (primary or intermediate) (primary or intermediate) (primary or intermediate)

July 2013 - June 2015 27 The General Voice (Youth, Māori and Community) on Youth Activities and Issues facing Youth Survey respondents were given a range of options to choose from when answering the following questions: What activities are youth interested in if offered at low or no cost? • 57% Adventure sports (tramp park, rock climbing wall, adventure racing, mountain biking) • 48% Organised sports (like soccer, rugby, swimming, etc.) • 48% Music / performing arts • 43% Fun and interesting classes • 43% A safe place • 42% Informal sports (running, kayaking, gym) • 37% Help with getting a job

What keeps youth from participating in activities? • 65% It costs too much • 56% Shy, nervous or embarrassed feelings • 51% Transportation • 50% Not interested

What are the three biggest issues facing our youth? • 51% Drug and alcohol use • 31% Gang influence • 29% Lack of employment • 29% Violence • 28% Boredom • 28% Doing well at school • 25% Being liked by peers • 24% Bullying • 22% Lack of money

Photography Simone Magners Pages; 17, 28 www.simonemagnerphotography.com Chris Parnell Pages; Cover (1.1), 1.5, 6, 8, 11, 24 www.cgdesign.co.nz Whakatane District Council Pages; 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 9, 13, 14, 16 www.whakatane.govt.nz

28 Whakatane Youth Action Plan Appendix 3: Community in Action Groups Whakatane Community in Action Groups To drive the Action Plan and serve as operational groups that provide a multipronged response to gaps, opportunities and issues as the Whakatane Youth Action Plan evolves, action groups have been developed as follows.

Action Groups Proposed Members

Attendance Attendance and Engaging Youth Forums • Attendance Service • Intermediate and 2 High Schools • MoE • Police • WACT

Offending Youth Offending Team (YOTs) • Iwi • MoE • Police • CYF, Youth Justice • BOP DHB

Alcohol and Drug • Intermediate and 2 High Schools • Voyagers • Recovery Solutions • Iwi AoD • Eastern Bay Public Health Association • BOP DHB • Te Puna Ora Mataatua

Education, Training and Employment • Intermediate and 2 High Schools • Trade Academy • MoE • WACT • Work and Income • Alternative Education • Chamber of Commerce • Youth Guarantee • Parents Families Whānau Advisor • The Correspondence School

Community Culture and Activities • Youth Council Given our Aim #4 of promoting a positive culture, this • Blue Light group will focus on: • Community Led Education • Community activities stock take and survey • Youth Justice • Facilitating Activities Expos at schools • Sports BOP • Promoting local positive activities and role models • REAP • Promoting outcome area success factors and positive • Whakatane Hub messages • Whakatane Community Board • Eastern Bay Public Health Association • Te Puna Ora Mataatua • Open Invite to youth and community

July 2013 - June 2015 29 WHAKATANE YOUTH ACTION PLAN (JULY 2013-JUNE 2015)