Ruapehu Youth Council holds working bee at Raetihi Community Gardens during Youth Week

A bumper crop of winter vegetables is on the way at the Raetihi Community Gardens, thanks to the help of some local young people.

Waimarino-Waiouru Youth Ambassadors from Ruapehu's Youth Council held a working bee at the Community Gardens as part of New Zealand Youth Week. Youth Week is a nationwide festival of events designed to encourage young people to take on challenges, share ideas and focus on the positive aspects of being young.

Youth Council Liaison Lauren Thompson said the theme for this year's Youth Week was "He wai hōhonu a mātou" (We are more than you see) and the ambassadors wanted to create a project that would give back to the community and encourage others to get involved in helping out their town.

"Helping to ensure that the Raetihi Community Gardens will produce a bumper crop of winter vegetables for those in need was a great way of doing this," Thompson said.

"The Youth Ambassadors put in a huge effort weeding and fertilising empty garden beds, planting seedlings for winter vegetables for the community and helping to dig a new compost area.

"As part of helping with community education they are also putting up signage at the recycling station to encourage people to compost their food waste rather than sending it to the landfill."