29017 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Youth

29017 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Youth: What role does the Minister see for organisations like Curative NZ in enabling equitable youth engagement, particularly for rangatahi Māori and other underrepresented groups?

Hon James Meager: There are a range of ways for young people to have a say in government decision-making, such as Youth Councils for Local, District, and Regional Councils, Youth Advisory Groups for central government agencies and Crown entities, Youth Parliament, other youth voice initiatives such as those organised by United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand or attending a Youth Week event, participating in a Select Committee process, signing petitions or writing to members of Parliament or Ministers. There are also mechanisms that help enable youth voice input in decision-making processes within local communities, such as youth representatives on boards, student councils or other leadership opportunities. My officials at the Ministry of Youth Development are responsible for allocating funding to community organisations that meet their funding criteria, and I do not direct them to fund particular organisations.