Needs are being addressed, trio insist

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: Jasmine Webb (left), Ngauta Inuwai and Kayla Brown were shocked to see the statistics highlighted in a report by the Salvation Army, saying the region offers a lot of support. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Northland's social report card may not have been the country's best, but the people living in the region say there is a lot happening to change that.

The Salvation Army's Mixed Fortunes report, released this week, showed Northland performed poorly in almost all sectors including education, employment, crime, youth achievement, abuse and neglect. But people who are living in the region say there are initiatives focused on tackling some of the problems.

Jasmine Webb, 16, Ngauta Inuwai, 19 and Kayla Brown, 19, are young mothers who attend Whangarei's He Matariki School for Teen Parents.

They said they were particularly shocked by how Northland fared in the education sector of the report.

"There's such great opportunities here," said Miss Inuwai.

"There's lots of support, particularly with this school. The teachers back us 100 per cent whether it be helping us with school or personal problems," said Miss Brown.

The three said He Matariki was a place helping to address areas where Northland was performing poorly. They said through the school they were able to get an education which would lead them into jobs and set up a good future for their kids to do the same.

"If this wasn't here, I don't think I'd be doing anything," said Miss Webb.

"Yeah because if we didn't have this we'd be adding to these statistics," said Miss Brown.

Shade Pihema works for He Iwi Kotahi Trust in Moerewa, a multifaceted community organisation, and said there was far more to Northland than bad statistics.

"I don't like [the report], but I'm not surprised by this information. I could walk out to the sidewalk now and find people that fit into each of those categories, without a doubt. Heck, I fit into a couple of those as well," she said.

Miss Pihema sees people who facing these issues everyday.

"I see these as merely surface issues that are a result of whatever else a young person is dealing with in their lives. From the point of view that I see, the issues are more that we have a lack of positive role models for our youth, a lack of people who care and an inadequate ability to dream beyond the boundaries of our small towns," she said.

Miss Pihema says the trust is trying to change that by providing a range of activities and services for the community to address issues highlighted in the report.

It has a social services team which works in areas of whanau support, youth justice and counselling, Pou Herenga Tangata - an alternative education class, arts-based programmes, a Youth Centre and more.

"All of the above are strategies we use to engage and build trusting, positive relationships with young people," Miss Pihema said.

She said overall there were a lot of things happening in Northland to be proud of.

"I do believe that outsiders have a skewed view of Northland.

"What I do hope they know is that we have our problems as much as the next place. There is a beauty in the people of Northland that cannot and will not be smothered," she said.