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More than 45 local students from Red Beach School and Ōrewa Primary have spent the past term learning how democracy works in Aotearoa and proving that young people have powerful ideas for the future of the Hibiscus Coast.
As part of the Tamariki Voices programme, funded by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, students explored how decisions are made in New Zealand, why community voice matters, and how local government can help shape safer, stronger neighbourhoods.
The programme, facilitated by youth engagement specialist Liv Huszak, combined civics education with real-life local issues. After learning about democracy, leadership, debate, and decision-making, students were challenged with an important question from the board:
“How do we make the Hibiscus Coast safer for young people?”
The answers were thoughtful, honest, creative, and deeply community-focused.
Students from Red Beach School proposed ideas including:
- More lighting around parks, playgrounds, and estuary walkways
- Glow-in-the-dark paint and colourful LED lighting in public spaces
- More visible water safety signage at beaches
- Greater diversity within Police and community safety roles
- Restrictions on vape stores near schools, parks, and places where children gather
Meanwhile, Ōrewa Primary students explored ideas such as:
- More rubbish, recycling, and soft-plastic bins across the Coast
- Better protection for marine reserves and ocean life
- Increased support for people experiencing homelessness
- Community connection initiatives like expanded Neighbours Day events
- Smoke-free public spaces and safer playground environments
Some of the ideas were practical, some imaginative, and some surprisingly wise for such young citizens.
“We should all know our neighbours,” one student group shared during their presentation. “If something goes wrong at home, we need to know who our neighbours are.”
Another group passionately advocated for cleaner public spaces. “We need bins at the beaches so there are no more broken bottles for kids to stand on.”
One particularly memorable suggestion from students asked for fewer vape stores near schools and parks “Replace the vape stores with Gameboy stores.”
For many of the learners, Tamariki Voices was their first experience engaging directly with local democracy.
“Tamariki Voices was an amazing opportunity,” one student said. “Now I now understand democracy and how it works.”
The final presentations were delivered directly to Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Jake Law, who visited both schools to hear the proposals firsthand.
Students confidently presented their ideas, answered questions, and led discussions around democracy, community wellbeing, and local decision-making.
“It was great to see our young people engaging in local democracy with a focus on community safety,” Law said.
“It is encouraging to hear their fantastic ideas, and I’ve taken their feedback to the board.” Huszak says the experience shows just how important it is to genuinely include young people in conversations about their communities.
“Kids see things adults miss,” she said.
“When we create safe spaces for tamariki to share their whakaaro, they come up with incredibly thoughtful, compassionate, and community-minded ideas. Tamariki Voices is about helping young people understand that democracy belongs to them too – and that their voices matter.”.
The programme is designed to be sustainable, with schools able to continue running elements of Tamariki Voices internally after the initial facilitation and resource development.
Schools interested in bringing Tamariki Voices into their kura are encouraged to get in touch.
For more information, contact Liv Huszak at: oliviahuszak@gmail.com
