Services & funding > Prime Minister's Youth Programme

Prime Minister's Youth Programme

The Prime Minister's Youth Programme is to reward and foster achievement for young people aged 14-17 years who have overcome adversity and made a substantial attempt to make positive life changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Prime Minister's Youth Programme?

A: The Prime Minister's Youth Programme is to reward young people aged 14-17 years who have overcome adversity and made a sustained attempt to make positive life changes, for instance young people who have moved away from low-levels of offending, truancy or poor academic achievement.

Q: What will the young people do on the Prime Minister's Youth Programme?

A: The Programme will offer young people a mix of fun, challenging and developmental activities. In addition, the young people will be offered the opportunity to spend time with, and learn and get advice from, high achieving/iconic New Zealanders, who they might not normally meet. The icons will act as positive role models. Together, the icons and the young people will take part in workshop activities designed to show the young people how different their lives could be, and the opportunities that may be available to them, if they continue to adopt the right attitude.

A number of high profile and well respected Kiwis in a variety of fields have offered their time to the Programme, including: Taungaroa Emile, Oscar Kightley, the Vodafone Warriors, the Northern Mystics, Che Fu plus many more.

Q: How will young people be selected to take part in the programme?

A: Young people will be nominated to attend and will decide if they wish to take part in the programme. In the first instance the programmes will largely be delivered in South and West Auckland.

Q: How will nominations work?

A: Working groups have been established involving key people in the community who will be involved in identifying and nominating young people for the Programme.

Q: How many young people will this benefit?

A: Each year 100 young people will be able to participate in the programme. The programme will run for one week from 25-29 January 2010.

Q: Will this really make a difference?

A: International evidence demonstrates that participation in positive activities can; help to improve attitudes to, and engagement with, school; build social and communication skills; help young people avoid taking risks such as experimenting with drugs or being involved in anit-social behaviour or crime; and improve their self-confidence and self-esteem. Participation can also help increase the resilience of young people who are trying to rebuild their lives.

Q: How will the programme take into account the different interests of the young people?

A: Four themed programmes will be run annually. Two will be sports themed, and two performance art/music themed. The organisations running the programmes will be expected to provide a diverse range of activities throughout the week in addition to the time the young people spend with the participating celebrities.

Q: Can a young person attend more than one of the themed programmes?

A: No. Young people nominated will only be able to attend a single programme.

Q: When will the programmes take place?

A: The four programmes will operate annually at the end of the Christmas break, commencing Monday 25 January 2010.

Q: Who will run the programmes?

A: The Ministry of Youth Development will contract providers to run each of the four programmes. The providers will be selected by the end of November 2009.

Q: Will the Prime Minister actually be involved with the Programme?

A: Yes, the Prime Minister will have a role in the programme, including the issuing of a certificate from the Prime Minister to all participants.

Q: What will happen to the young people after the programme?

A: The young people will be encouraged to maintain their positive behaviours and supported to identify future goals for after the Programme.

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