Howick Local Board Elections

I think the most pressing issue for youth is mental health and wellbeing. The key to tackling this issue is providing opportunities for grassroots sport, safe spaces to connect with others as well as providing accessible arts, music and cultural experiences locally. By investing in these areas, we can better support the next generation to feel a sense of belonging to their community, and help give them a sense of purpose and pride. I am passionate about helping young people thrive, and being a mum to a teen and a tween, I am highly invested in this not just for my own kids, but for all our kids and young adults as they navigate the world.

Feeling a sense of connection to the community is really important for mental health and

wellbeing, and I am a leader in community connection. I have seen first hand what a connected

community can do and how it can go from surviving to thriving. I am deeply committed to

helping our youth thrive, and supporting youth initiatives, backed up by my volunteer work for

schools and grassroots sport.

I believe the most pressing issue for youth is employment. Too many young people struggle to find meaningful job opportunities that match their skills, interests, and potential. This creates barriers to independence, confidence, and future stability.

To address this, I would focus on building stronger pathways between education and employment. That means working closely with schools, training providers, and local businesses to create more apprenticeships, internships, and work experience opportunities. I would also advocate for investment in skills training—particularly in growth areas such as technology, trades, and green industries—so our young people are equipped for the jobs of the future.

Equally important is ensuring that youth have access to mentoring and career guidance, helping them to see the range of opportunities available and supporting them to take their first steps into the workforce. By linking education, industry, and community support together, we can create a clear pathway for young people to move into meaningful, sustainable employment.

This is an excellent and complex question.  I think the most pressing issue is Mental Health & Wellbeing.  Stress and anxiety due to relationships, career, economic uncertainty, examination, family issue, social media could further worsen to social separation, depression and even more serious psychological problem.

Howick Local Board can provide funding and partnership with organization like Youthline to campaign for raising awareness and communicate to the youth, teachers and schools.  Peer and teacher support are important to provide a well-being environment and prevention.  So, open communication and conversation through schools, local board, NGO partnership events and activities about the issue will help better understanding and self-awareness.  Mental health first aid training would be one of the good tools, too.

In July, I sat in on a Howick Local Board workshop where the HYC Leadership Team was asked what young people need most. Their answer was simple but powerful: Lifeskills and I couldn’t agree more.

Young people today face huge pressures - from mental health struggles, education demands, climate anxiety, and social media harms, to fears about inclusion. At the same time, many aren’t

getting the practical skills they need for everyday life - things like driving, budgeting, managing finances, understanding mortgages, or even basic cooking and planting. Not all youth have equal access to these skills.

Politics is another gap. In Auckland’s last local election, only 35.4% of the general population voted, and of the 137,512 young people eligible to vote, just 59% were even registered. That

shows how disconnected youth feel from local government.

If elected, I want to be a bridge. I would advocate for Howick Local Board to work with schools to run workshops on civic duty, and partner with organisations to deliver seminars on practical

life skills. From learning to budget to something as simple as learning how to save. Most importantly, I’ll keep listening to youth voices and ensure we keep supporting the incredible work

of the Howick Youth Council.

As a father I feel deep concern for the future. The pace of change is rapid, and the future more unpredictable than ever.

Today’s youth face challenges on many fronts: job stability, artificial intelligence, climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, unsustainable resource use, and rising risks from drugs, chemicals, machinery, and malicious actors. Added to this are pollution, global instability, the pressures of globalization, an aging population, and New Zealand’s growing reliance on the internet and external systems. These realities will shape the world our youth must inherit and navigate. It is almost impossible to know what the next decade will bring—just as 30 years ago few could have predicted how cell phones, the internet, and now AI would transform our lives.

With change arriving so fast, it is difficult to pinpoint one single priority beyond building resilience, adaptability, and staying informed.

Advances in science and technology bring new opportunities to protect and restore our world.

With access to unprecedented levels of information, youth are capable of achieving more than any generation before them.

I will support the Howick Youth Council to have an annual symposium with experts to explore opportunities in education, business and the job market that considers future opportunities and how to adapt.

The most pressing issues for youth:

One of the most pressing issues for young people is hope for their future. Many struggle to find local jobs, need to get around without a car, feel anxious about the environment and are trying to manage their mental health.

If elected, I’ll continue to push for more youth employment by linking schools, businesses, to create real pathways into work. I’ll maintain the fight for safer, affordable public transport so youth can get to jobs, study, and participate in activities.

I support environmental projects, like stream clean-ups, native planting, and pest control, that build pride and purpose. And, continue to advocate for mental health support in schools and communities, because no young person should feel they’re on their own.

By focusing on jobs, transport, mental health, and the environment together, we can empower youth to build a stronger future for our area.

The biggest issue for young people in Howick Ward isn’t just sport, jobs, or transport — it’s that too many feel disconnected from local politics altogether. Decisions are being made about their future, but they don’t feel they have a seat at the table. That lack of engagement means their voices are missed when council sets priorities.

If elected, I’ll tackle this head on by:

• Encourage  youth forums that meet regularly with the Local Board so young people can directly shape decisions.

• Bringing council into schools and community hubs — making politics visible, relatable, and accessible instead of distant.

• Using digital channels young people actually engage with to share decisions in plain language, not council jargon.

• Supporting youth-led initiatives in areas like climate action, events, and entrepreneurship, so they see politics as something they can influence, not just watch from the outside.

My goal is to make local government less of a mystery and more of a tool young people can use. When youth are engaged, the whole community benefits — because they bring energy, ideas, and accountability that keep council focused on fixing what matters.

More than ever we're facing a rapidly changing world - never has technology and innovation happened so quickly and it continues to accelerate. In an uncertain world, it’s vital that rangatahi are equipped with the skills and capability to adapt. From AI to climate change, the challenges of the future are here.

We need to continue to improve how the council works with youth to empower rangatahi to tackle challenges as they arise. The Howick Youth Council is a core part of this, providing a safe, proven platform for young people to connect and grow together. I’d like to see us build on the success of the HYC and Te Taiwhanga Taiohi Youth Space to develop and empower rangatahi.

Entertainment

We don’t have enough safe, fun local spaces for young people. I’ll push for more youth entertainment options so you’ve got places to go at night and weekends.

Transport

Getting to uni or work is too expensive. I’ll advocate for half-price fares for students and young families and more reliable services.

Employment

Finding a job locally is tough. I’ve already been connecting businesses with schools to create opportunities, and I’ll expand this so it’s easier for young people to get work close to home.

Health & Wellbeing

I’ll back free, accessible youth counselling programmes, more activities like parkour parks, and free summer sports events so cost isn’t a barrier to joining in.

I’m results-driven, community-minded, and committed to delivering projects on time and on budget. I’ll be your voice on Council , speaking up confidently for East Auckland’s youth and driving fresh ideas for our future.

Vote for proven integrity, energy, and action.
Vote Bo Burns.

One of the most pressing issues for Howick youth is the lack of safe, engaging spaces and opportunities for personal growth. Many young people struggle with limited access to after-school programs, sports, creative outlets, and mental health support. Without these, they can feel disconnected from their community or fall through gaps in education, wellbeing, and skills development.

If elected to the Howick ward councillor or Howick Local Board, I would tackle this by investing in youth-focused programs and facilities. I aim to expand safe recreational spaces, support mentorship and skills-building initiatives, and collaborate with schools, local clubs, and community groups to provide accessible after-school and holiday activities. I will advocate for stronger mental health support and create platforms for young people to have their voices heard in decision-making. My goal is to ensure Howick youth have the tools, opportunities, and confidence to thrive, turning potential into achievement and helping them feel proud of their community.

The transitional phase of leaving school and facing further study or job seeking is difficult. Youth are facing the issues of choosing a career direction, qualifying for study, or looking for long term employment. The cost of living for many poses issues around affordability of study, living independently and getting a driving licence. Many families are relying on their teens go straight into work to add to the family’s income. Part time “after school” jobs to supplement study loans are hard to get as these are being taken by out-of-work adults affected by redundancy. All this leads to stress.

Encourage advocacy to central government from youth. Arranging local MP’s to come and hear our young people speak of their issues. Many issues I have identified are related to government policy.

Continue to support the work of our Youth Council in providing youth workshops led by SME’s on related topics -job seeking, managing stress, decision making, managing money.

Work with local business clusters or associations to offer job opportunities in our local area – both permanent full time, and part-time. This could involve supported learning/training opportunities.

Encourage local organisations to provide scholarships for both tertiary and trade study.

I believe the biggest issue facing our young people is that they are growing up in families under financial stress, being let down by an education system distracted from core learning, and lacking access to affordable sports and community facilities.

When rates and living costs keep rising, parents are stretched just to make ends meet, and that pressure flows down to their children. At the same time, schools are caught up in woke ideas instead of focusing on reading, writing, maths, and preparing students to compete in the real world. Add to this the shortage of sporting and recreational facilities in East Auckland, and it’s no surprise many young people feel disengaged or left behind.

At ACT Local, we stand for cutting wasteful spending, keeping costs down, and fixing the basics first — alleviating the burden on families while delivering the sports and community facilities our youth deserve.

What do you think is the most pressing issue for youth and how would you plan on addressing/tackling this issue if you were elected to the Howick Local Board?

One of the most pressing issues facing young people in Howick is the lack of meaningful opportunities to engage, develop skills, and feel a sense of belonging within their own community. Too often, youth are disconnected from decision-making and have limited access to safe, accessible spaces that support their growth and wellbeing.

If elected to the Howick Local Board, I will make youth engagement a top priority. I will establish/support a Youth Advisory Group to ensure their voices directly influence board decisions. I will also advocate for greater investment in youth-focused facilities and programs—whether in sports, arts, technology, or leadership—so that opportunities are created with and for young people.

In addition, I will support partnerships with schools, community organisations, and local businesses to build pathways for skill development, volunteering, and employment. Strengthening access to mental health and wellbeing initiatives will also be a focus, ensuring that young people are supported holistically.

By empowering youth, we are not just addressing immediate challenges—we are investing in the future of Howick. I believe every young person should feel valued, supported, and proud to call this community home, and I am committed to making that a reality.

One of the most pressing issues facing youth in our community is the lack of meaningful civic engagement and limited access to the knowledge and tools needed to participate in local decision-making. Many young people are unaware of the role local boards play or how they can contribute, and this gap in civic education significantly limits their ability to influence the issues that directly affect them. The fact that over 70% of people under the age of 35 did not vote in the last local body elections speaks volumes — especially when decisions made today will impact their lives for years to come, both financially and socially. If elected to the Howick Local Board, I would advocate for stronger youth engagement strategies, including:

• Partnering with local schools and youth organisations to introduce civic education workshops and youth-focused community forums.

• Increase funding for the Howick Youth Council to support its goals.

• Supporting internship and volunteering opportunities within local government and business.

In addition, the rising cost of living is placing serious pressure on young people. Access to part-time employment, affordable public transport, and safe, inclusive community spaces are essential to improving youth wellbeing.

The biggest issue I see facing youth today is disconnection—from opportunity, from decision-making, and from each other.

Too often, young people feel like they don’t belong in council processes. Many don’t know how to access career help, youth events, mental health support, or funding for creative ideas. I’ve spoken with students, young workers, creatives, and community leaders who all say the same: we want to contribute, but we don’t know where to start.

If elected, I will:

• Continue Support for Botany Youth Hub and Push for One in Ormiston, equipped for study, career events, workshops, and downtime.

• Launch a Youth-driven Noticeboard (socials + QR posters in schools and malls)—listing events, funding calls, internships, and council updates.

• Partner with Youth Council to Pitch Ideas—where young people propose project ideas, provide consultation, or connect with local organisations.

• Run grant-writing workshops and drop-ins, so young creators, clubs, and entrepreneurs can get access to funding.

Disconnection is real—but solvable. With smart systems and genuine youth leadership, we can turn Flat Bush and Howick into a place where young people feel empowered and included. We don’t lack talent – we lack access. Help me, help us fix that.