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There was a youthful and positive atmosphere around Ōrewa’s Western Reserve on March 2, with young musicians performing live, activities like skateboarding, paddleboarding, basketball, Hungerball and Have a Go art, free ice creams, recycled clothing and stalls run by local young enterpreneurs.
Even the Zero Waste recycling and waste bins were looked after by young people – members of a 12th grade football team who are fundraising to attend a tournament in Australia.
It was Ōrewa’s first Coastival, organised by the HBC Youth Hauora Network and funded by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, with a focus entertaining, showcasing and supporting youth.
Network facilitator, Sara Mason, says it was a great starting point and provided inspiration for what she hopes will be an annual event on the first weekend in March.
She says feedback was that in particular it was a great opportunity for youth performance – with around a dozen bands, soloists and duos taking part.
“For some it was their first time performing in public,” Sara says. “That’s one element I want to build on. My proposal to the Network will be to move the event to later in the day, and get sponsorship to fund a big stage, with a proper sound system for young performers.”
She would also like to see the youth market stalls grow and says another goal is to provide opportunities for young people to get involved with running the event and providing ideas for what they’d like to see included.
