Young people give strong message about future

Children as young as six have participated in the Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint with clear messages to local government about what they want protected for future generations.

Some 147 children and teenagers gave feedback to Blueprint project partners Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC), Environment Waikato, Hauraki Whaanui and the Department of Conservation as part of the Blueprint’s consultation phase.

Their views will be incorporated into local blueprint plans for each community and used in long term planning tools by these agencies.

The feedback was gathered via a Blueprint Youth Competition advertised in local papers in which youngsters were asked to describe what they loved about living on the Coromandel and what they might do to make it a better place.

A bebo site was also set up by EW facilitator Sam Stephens, while Thames-Coromandel District Council Communications Officer Alison Smith visited schools in Tairua and Whangamata.

Ms Smith says the youngsters who gave feedback went to great effort to express their views with photos, illustrative drawings, poetry and even presentations on DVD. “There were exceptional ideas coming through,” she says. “And it’s really important that we hear from this age group, because these are the people who’ll be living with the consequences of choices that we make today.”

There were definite themes on what youngsters felt was unique and special about the peninsula. This included the pohutukawa on the beaches, the beach environment, our native bush, clean water and safe, village-like atmospheres in our towns.

“Some were concerned about the Coromandel becoming a mini Auckland. Several said they didn’t want to see high rises on the beach and others were worried about finding good paid employment when they were older.

“There were amazingly in-depth submissions raising issues like affordable housing and sustainable land use. It was really heartening to see we’ve got some clever future leaders out there.”