Central Otago District Council’s efforts to bring young people into local decision-making are getting noticed by other councils. 

Mayor Tamah Alley said the council’s focus on cutting jargon and meeting youth where they are - in schools, youth spaces and at events - had been key to lifting participation. 

“Our recent youth survey, as part of the Long Term Plan, had over 300 submissions from people under 18,” she said. 

“That tells me young people do want to be part of these conversations, especially when we’re talking about long-term infrastructure that will benefit them the most. 

“Councils have often struggled to reach youth, but there’s a real appetite for civics education in this generation and we’ve been trying to harness that enthusiasm.” 

Representatives of other councils now want to know the secret behind Central Otago’s success. 

Tamah said the council had created youth-specific feedback forms written in everyday language and she had attended face-to-face sessions in schools focused on particular projects. 

“When you’re engaging with youth, it has to be relevant, interesting and worth their time - otherwise you lose them straight away,” she said. 

In her experience hearing directly from young people brings a fresh perspective to decision making. 

“Generations Z and Alpha think differently about community - they’re more connected to the world beyond, more environmentally conscious, and more tech-savvy,” she said. 

“Their priorities around ease of living, sustainability and future opportunities are shaping the world we’re building.” 

The conversation continues this week with a pizza-fuelled meet-up between would-be local politicians and young voters. 

The ‘Politics and Pizza’ evening, hosted by Puna Rangatahi Youth Council, invites young people to quiz local government candidates in the final week of the election campaign. 

Tamah plans to attend the event. 

“Last election it was ‘speed-date your candidates’ and it was a brilliant format,” she said.

“The questions are always thoughtful and future-focused, and it’s such a relaxed way to connect. It’s a reminder that politics doesn’t have to be stuffy - it can be engaging and fun too.” 

She said keeping young people involved was crucial for the future of democracy. 

“If we can’t get the next generation interested in local government, the future of democracy is at risk. We need to normalise talking about what’s happening in our towns - not just in council chambers, but around dinner tables and in classrooms.” 

Politics and Pizza will be held at Central Cinema in Alexandra on Wednesday (October 8) from 6pm. It is open to anyone voting for the first time or curious about local politics.

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