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Young people on the Hibiscus Coast are being encouraged to speak up about the future of their area through an online challenge running alongside consultation on the draft Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Plan.
Local board plans set the direction for each area for the next three years, covering everything from parks and playgrounds to community programmes and environmental projects. Consultation on the draft plan is open until Thursday, July 23.
Auckland Council governance graduate Mira Arif says young people are generally under-represented in the consultation process, despite the plans having a direct impact on their lives. She says the council recognises it needs to put more effort into reaching young people and is using the youth engagement website Buzzly to help generate interest.
Buzzly describes itself as a platform that connects young people with real-world opportunities to make an impact, using creative challenges to help them share ideas and see their voices turned into action.
The regional challenge asks: “What should be the biggest priority for young people in your local area over the next three years?”
There is no set format for response, Arif says and young people can submit a video, voice note, photo, drawing, poem, written response or any other creative form, and every response made through the challenge counts as a formal submission on the draft plan.
As an added incentive, there are 70 vouchers worth $20 each up for grabs. Rewards earned through Buzzly are added to a digital wallet and can be exchanged for gift vouchers, but cannot be redeemed as cash.
Submissions close on 23 July 23. Info: Take the challenge at buzzly.nz/challenge-hub/details/48. The draft Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Plan is at akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/local-board-plans-2026.
