Youth Week 2025 – the fifth time’s a charm!

The fifth year of hosting local Youth Week activities was the best ever says Ruby Sei, Partners Porirua Communications and Projects Assistant.

Coordinated nationally by Ara Taiohi, the theme for this year’s week was ‘Take our Place: Whai Wāhitanga’.

“We interpreted the theme to encourage young people to go out into their community to different spaces and own them. For us that meant working with our partners to create different safe spaces for young people to get creative with music, take part in sport and prioritise their hauora.”

This year Partners Porirua worked closely with The 502 and Ora Toa on all three events over the week of 19-23 May 2025. “Working together meant we were able to make the events bigger and better than ever and reach more and different types of young people.”

Ruby says more than 300 Porirua tamariki and rangatahi attended the free events.

Monday was Hauora Day with the focus on overall wellbeing. This included a gym session, vaccination clinic and opportunities to talk with health professionals like nurses, psychologist and counsellors up at The 502.

The Wednesday session was a full sports day at Te Rauparaha Arena featuring basketball, volleyball, netball and laser tag.

The final session for the week was the ever-popular Jam Sess in Cobham Court which gave budding musicians the opportunity to take centre stage on the mic. There was also a Zumba class and shopping for free at the clothing stall. The New Zealand Police manned the BBQ for the event.

“It was really cool to have the Youth Aid team from Police involved. I saw lots of young people that don’t necessarily have a good experience with Police, interacting with them and having a good time.

It was also really nice to see so many students from local schools attending, mixing with others and all getting along.”

A special shout out goes to those who helped make the day possible including Ara Taiohi, Porirua City Council and Bidfood NZ for donating the sausages and brownies!