Youth Voice – Making connections

Every school holiday, we seem to see the same headlines – youth getting up to trouble on the Coast. Property damage, fights, reckless choices that leave parents shaking their heads and communities disappointed. But behind those headlines, I see something deeper: young people searching for connection, identity, and a sense of belonging.

When we look closer, many of these actions aren’t about bad kids, they’re about bored kids. Youth who are craving attention, wanting to be seen, heard, and valued. Unfortunately for some, negative behaviour becomes the quickest way to earn recognition from peers. It gets them noticed. It gives them that moment of fame, a bit of “street credibility,” and before long, others follow, thinking that’s how you build status or self-worth.

The truth is, what we’re seeing is a symptom of disconnection; disconnection from family, from community, from purpose. When young people don’t feel that they belong in a positive space, they’ll find belonging wherever they can, even if that means doing something harmful to get a reaction.

At Amokura Coaching, supported by the Chiwi Hope Foundation, we’ve seen what happens when that energy is redirected. When we give young people healthy outlets, movement, mentorship, teamwork, good kai, and positive role models, they rise. You watch them start to hold themselves differently, speak differently, carry more mana. They start to see their own worth reflected in the eyes of others who believe in them.

That’s why community initiatives such as the Hibiscus Coast Hauora Youth Network are so powerful. They bring together schools, coaches, counsellors, local businesses, and youth workers to create real opportunities for connection. Whether it’s through sport, creative outlets, volunteering, or mentoring, what matters most is giving our young people safe, positive environments where they can belong and be proud of who they are.

We can’t simply punish or lecture our way out of youth crime. The real solution starts with presence, being there, listening, guiding, and showing that we care. It’s about helping our young people see that their lives have value, that their voices matter, and that their energy can be used to uplift, not destroy.

Let’s keep working together, our families, schools, businesses, and coaches, to create spaces where our youth can thrive. Because when we invest in connection, we build stronger, safer, more hopeful communities for everyone.

Michael “Willy” Wilson is coach, mentor, and community connector. Through Amokura Coaching I support people of all ages to move, live well, and build confidence. He is an former professional rugby player in Italy and France, turned strength and conditioning Coach.