Latest news with #ŌtaraYouthHub
Scoop
11-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Ōtara Youth Hub Closure: A Critical Loss For Rangatahi As Funding Cuts Take Their Toll
The unexpected closure of the Ōtara Youth Hub has left staff without jobs and local rangatahi, young people, without a trusted place to seek help. The situation highlights how contract funding cuts reshape communities in South Auckland. Ōtara has around 21,700 residents, with a median age of just 27.6, and more than half (54 per cent) of the population is under 30, according to the 2023 census and community data. The youthful demographic shows the critical need for dedicated youth spaces in the area. According to an E Tū Whānau feature published in July 2023, the Ōtara Youth Hub, which E Tū Whānau had funded for the past three years, provided local rangatahi with a safe and creative environment for career support, music production, mentoring, and cultural activities, even enabling some young people to attend NASA Space Camp and the Dubai Expo. Its sudden closure cuts off access to this wide range of opportunities. Victoria Hearn, a former employee at the Ōtara Youth Hub, says the entire team was made redundant when funding was exhausted. 'Myself and all the youth hub were made redundant due to them running out of funding and not securing more. So, as of the 30th of June, I finished sadly. My team and I are absolutely gutted as there is now no physical space for our rangatahi who needed it most. They are going to still run youth programmes, but there will no longer be the intensive one-to-one support that we provided for our higher risk and disengaged rangatahi.' Hearn suggested that inquiries should be directed to CEO Terangi Parima. In a heartfelt statement on social media before the closure, the Ōtara Youth Hub stated: 'Like many others across Aotearoa, we have been directly impacted by the government's funding cuts, and sadly, this special place, along with our incredible team of kaimahi, is one of the casualties. 'The Youth Hub has been more than just a space. It's been a second home, a safe haven, and a source of connection, inspiration and growth for hundreds of young people… We know the loss of this space is painful. The Ōtara Youth Hub has been the only daily drop-in space for youth in our area, and its absence will be deeply felt.' Apulu Reece Autagavaia, chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, says the situation clearly shows how government cost-cutting affects local frontline services. 'It's really unfortunate, and this is a sign of the government's cuts to social organisations, social contracts… This is what happens when we have a government that just wants to save and give money to landlords, tobacco lobbyists and oil companies,' he says. 'At the grassroots level, at the everyday street level, this is what happens. The good services get closed down, and this is what Ōtara people are suffering from.' The local board is now seeking ways to find alternative council-owned spaces in the town centre to fill the gap left by the Youth Hub. 'We need to find another place for them. The local board members are keen to look at what, within council facilities, can accommodate them,' Apulu says. Manukau Ward councillor Lotu Fuli says the closure is just one example of how funding cuts affect a young community like Ōtara. She says the Youth Hub played a significant role in reaching young people who might not otherwise receive support. 'Ōtara-Papatoetoe is the second youngest in terms of average age in the city, and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu is the youngest. The whole Manukau ward is the youngest in the city and possibly the country. So it's really important we have initiatives for young people, and that they feel empowered as leaders, not just of tomorrow but today. 'My understanding is it's because of cuts in funding generally. We're seeing that happen across the board to pretty much every community programme and locally driven initiative in the city and the country.' While the physical hub has closed, Fuli says the group still exists and may continue some activities in shared spaces like the Ōtara Kai Village. She says different organisations and groups, such as the Youth Hub and the Youth Council (TOPS), serve different segments of the youth population. 'I hope that in the near future, we'll see the Ōtara Youth Hub re-establish an actual place where they can carry on their work. From what I understand, they still exist but will probably be working out of the Ōtara Kai Village space. It just means they don't have a separate hub dedicated just for young people. 'Groups like TOPS really concentrate on our secondary school leaders who are probably going on to university, whereas the Youth Hub caters more to young people who are perhaps out of the school system, like our biker boys, who don't necessarily end up in tertiary education. The wider we cast our net, the better.' What happens next? The honest answer is that no one knows yet. Terangi Parima, CEO of Terangi Community Builders Trust, declined to comment. The local board continues to explore what council-owned facilities could host youth services in the future.
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Ōtara youth challenged to design new town centre playground
A new playground is coming to Ōtara, a project led by local rangatahi. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council Ōtara's only town centre playground is getting a fresh start with local youth leading the charge. Auckland Council removed the playground and seating area in January in a bid to deter antisocial behaviour and public drinking outside the Ōtara TAB, leaving some of the community disheartened . It followed a local board decision in November 2024 to relocate the town centre playground. In a rare show of youth-led democracy, rangatahi are not only guiding the design but asking the community to help decide its location before consultation closes on 20 June. A drop-in session was being held at Ōtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC on Friday night. Ōtara Papatoeote local board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia said they wanted to empower young people to decide on things that they will use. "Nobody knows what's best for youth than the youth themselves," he said. "This is a playground they decided over, and hopefully they'll take care of it and help find solutions if any issues come up." Community youth groups like TOPs (The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Squad), PACT, Ōtara Youth Hub, TYLA Youth Development Trust, and Adullam Boys are helping guide the public consultation. Apulu said the consultation was also a chance to think more broadly about safety and support in the area. "Ōtara Town Centre is for everyone, and we want it to be safe for everyone too. For those affected by antisocial behaviour, how can we activate the space in a positive and safe way? And how can we involve social services to help address the drinking issues our people are facing?" Manukau ward councillor Lotu Fuli said different groups had asked to remove the playground due to their children being exposed to antisocial behaviour. The original playground was moved from the Bairds Road Reserve as an answer to the community's concerns. There are four proposed locations for the new playground: Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council While the rangatahi are leading the project and design, Fuli said there would be constraints due to budgets. The final proposal is expected to go to the local board for approval in October, with building scheduled to start between April and June 2026. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
