Releases

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the second stage of major legislative reforms aimed at improving the long-term life outcomes for New Zealand’s most vulnerable children and young people has been introduced into Parliament. “Significant reform is essential for truly transformational change in the overhaul of state care and protection, to provide children and young people with loving, stable homes and the successful lives they deserve,” says Mrs Tolley.

Acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley today announced the successful applicants for Youth Fund 2017. “I’m pleased to announce that 36 projects will share $150,000 of funding available under Youth Fund 2017,” says Mrs Tolley. Youth Fund is about supporting community initiatives designed and led by young people, either working alone or in partnership with youth organisations. “Young people made up the panel which assessed applications, making this a completely youth-led initiative,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has congratulated the young people who have been recognised at today’s tenth annual William Wallace Awards ceremony in Wellington. The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of young people in care or with experience in care, and provide scholarships of up to $3,000 to help them pursue tertiary study, vocational training, leadership programmes or an Outward Bound course. ...

Sixteen councils up and down New Zealand will share $231,400 of funding under the Local Government Youth Project Fund 2017, Acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley announced today. “This fund supports city, district and regional councils to deliver projects that provide young people with leadership, mentoring and volunteering skills, and help them make a difference in their communities,” says Mrs Tolley. ...

The youth justice system will be extended to include lower risk 17 year-olds, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley have announced today. The changes, which will take place by 2019, will ensure that all 17 year-old offenders are dealt with according to which jurisdiction is best suited to the particular case. The vast majority of 17 year-old offenders are lower risk. They will be dealt with in the Youth Court where the interventions are more targeted and lead to better results.