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Nelson Youth Council

The Nelson Youth Council is a group of twenty young people aged 14-19 who work to make the city a better place for youth and to give young people a voice in Nelson.

The group aims to have representatives in every secondary school in the Nelson region, as well as from NMIT and the community, and meets monthly in the Council Chamber to discuss youth issues, actions and projects they have on the go.

Visit their Facebook page or Instagram for details about Youth Council activities and awesome youth events going on in Nelson.

How to get involved!

Applications for the 2026 Nelson Youth Council are now closed. The next opening date will be advertised here and on our Facebook page in 2026. The Nelson Youth Council is looking for motivated rangatahi aged 14–19 to represent youth voices in our city.

This dynamic group meets monthly at Civic House to discuss youth issues, lead community projects, and advise Nelson City Council on matters that affect young people. Members also help organise youth events, sponsor youth awards, and attend Council meetings to ensure youth perspectives are heard.

We aim to have representatives from every secondary school in the region, as well as NMIT and community members.

What commitment will you be making?

You must be:

  • Able to attend monthly meetings held from 1pm‑3pm on differing days throughout the week (Monday‑Friday), as well as working group meetings, sub-group meetings, workshops, events and other opportunities such as community consultations.
  • Able to commit around 7 to 13 hours per month.
  • Able to attend 80% of meetings.
  • We get you to and from the meeting and provide kai

For any queries, please contact Amy Coulter (Community Partnerships Coordinator Hāpori) at 03 546 0248 or amy.coulter@ncc.govt.nz

Meet the Nelson Youth Council 2025-2026

Image of Nelson Youth Council with Mayor Nick

Standing, left to right: Scout Proctor-Thomson, Lilly Hippolite, Petra Cogger, Bailey Main, Matilda McMullen, Max Stanton, Ayla Turner, Matthaeus Kwan, Kayla Trotter. Front, left to right: Rosie Goomes, Briana Williams, Esther Ribas, Avalon Myer, Juno O’Connor

Youth Council aims

Some of the Nelson Youth Council’s aims are to:

  • give Nelson youth a real voice
  • discuss and work towards solutions with the Nelson City Council and Nelson youth on issues and projects that concern young people in Nelson
  • bring the needs and concerns of young people to the attention of local and central government
  • assist with Nelson City Council’s planning processes to ensure a youth voice is heard by the Council
  • identify local youth needs and resources, and bring these to attention of Council
  • provide young people with experience of local government.

The group make submissions to Council, organise and support youth events, and sponsor youth awards. They also run their own projects and initiatives around issues they have found important to young people in the community.

Two Youth Councillors attend most Nelson City Council and committee meetings to provide a youth voice to Council. Read more about the Nelson Youth Strategy here.

Contact us

The Youth Council is all about hearing the voice of youth! If you have anything that you think needs to be said, feel free to get in contact through Nelson City Council's customer service: enquiries@ncc.govt.nz or visit their Facebook page so that you can be heard!

Read a Q&A with current councillors here.

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