Youth Voice – Working with youth making a difference

Hidden behind the Estuary Arts Centre, the Hibiscus Youth Hub has quietly replaced what used to be the HBC Youth Centre. Of course, you’d be forgiven for missing the name change, but unfortunately, lots of the work the Hub does goes unnoticed too. I’m sure many of us have heard stories of youth assaults, and remember the headlines about the Hibiscus Bus Station. But what isn’t in the headlines is that since the Hub’s opening in 2024, it has contributed to a significant decrease in youth crime rates across the Hibiscus Coast.

In an interview I did with Rodney District police youth aid sergeant and the Hub’s chair, Jon Williams, said that before the Hub, no one was working with the tough kids. But now, through a collaboration with Ōrewa and Whangaparāoa Colleges, it works to identify and support youth at risk of expulsion. However, Williams ultimately attributed its success to their focus on relationships.

He said that most youth offenders have never known a healthy environment, and having mentors who can provide support has a big impact. “They have to be those positive role models for the kids that they know they can trust; they know they’re going to be there when they need advice.” 

The State of the Coast report, released in June 2025 by the Hibiscus Coast Youth Hauora Network, found that youth-related crime reported on the Coast could be linked to behaviours such as boredom and a lack of belonging. Lead tutor of the Hub’s alternative education space, Sal Key, pointed out that a crucial part of the Hub’s role is to provide that missing sense of belonging, starting by encouraging youth to come as they are. 

With this attitude, the Hub has seen some amazing results. At the end of 2025, youth who had a 22 per cent attendance rate are up to 92 per cent this year. And those who were caught up in crime and on the verge of going into the youth justice system have completely changed.

But the Hub’s mentors can only do so much. Williams said their young people are, in a lot of ways, isolated from the community. And I’ve seen this too. When a young person gets labelled as a naughty kid, it’s very hard for them to change that narrative. Both Williams and Key agree that the community must play a part in changing their attitude. And I think the first step is recognising our responsibility to these youth. It’s easy to minimise the impact our community has on these young people, but if every judgmental look was replaced with a kind smile, I think we would see the benefits of that.