Rotorua is searching for its next generation of community leaders, with applications now open for rangatahi wanting a seat at the table and a chance to help shape decisions affecting young people across the district.
Rotorua Lakes Council is calling for young people aged 15 to 20 to apply for the Rotorua Youth Council 2027, offering participants an opportunity to represent their peers, contribute to local decision-making and develop practical leadership skills.
Giving rangatahi a voice
Over the past three years, the Youth Council has provided a direct pathway for young people to engage with civic issues and contribute ideas about the future of their community.
During 2026, Youth Councillors contributed to Council planning processes, youth engagement initiatives and projects focused on wellbeing, connection and belonging.
Along the way, participants gained experience in leadership, teamwork, public speaking, project planning and community engagement.
That makes the programme more than an introduction to local government.
It gives rangatahi an opportunity to understand how decisions are made while developing the confidence and skills needed to influence those decisions.
From Youth Council to the mayoralty
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell has a particularly strong connection with the programme, having begun her own political leadership journey as a Youth Councillor.
She says Youth Councillors are able to bring their ideas directly into Council while gaining skills that can support their future careers and leadership ambitions.
Councillor Fisher Wang is also a former Youth Councillor and sees the programme as a way for young people to transform their interest in community issues into practical action.
He says young people bring fresh perspectives to the challenges and opportunities facing Rotorua, while participation can build confidence and provide lasting personal and professional benefits.
An opportunity for rangatahi Māori
In Rotorua, providing meaningful opportunities for rangatahi participation also carries particular importance for Māori.
Young Māori are not simply future residents or future ratepayers. They are part of the communities experiencing today’s decisions around housing, transport, employment, environmental protection, community facilities, wellbeing and the future development of Rotorua.
Creating pathways for rangatahi to understand local government and advocate for their generation can help ensure those perspectives are heard before decisions are made.
It can also encourage a new generation to consider careers in public service, governance and community leadership.
Learning how decisions get made
Successful applicants for the 2027 Youth Council will have opportunities to learn more about local government, advocate for Rotorua’s young people and contribute to projects designed to strengthen communities across the district.
For young people who have ever looked at something happening in their neighbourhood, kura or city and thought it could be done differently, the Youth Council offers an opportunity to move from having an opinion to participating in the process.
And Rotorua already has proof that a place on a Youth Council can be the beginning of something much bigger.
Applications for the Rotorua Youth Council 2027 close on 1 November 2026.
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