Head boy for all of Auckland

Sam Crosby is looking forward to being involved in the Super City. Photo / Richard Robinson

Sam Crosby isn't too fussed about missing out on being made a prefect at his high school.

For the 17-year-old, being elected chairman of the Super City's youth advisory panel is a bit like being chosen as head boy for all of Auckland.

"It's definitely a bigger role, I guess," he says modestly.

The Year 13 student, who attends Albany Senior High School, is one of the youngest members of the panel, which comprises 21 people from the Auckland region.

Their ages range from 17 to 22 and they are a mix of high school and university students - a number of whom are studying politics.

Mr Crosby has been a community leader at school and worked on the Shore Youth Council last year before he was chosen with two others to represent the North Shore on the panel.

"I've just always been really interested in knowing what's going on in our city and knowing that we can have a say," he said.

"I really wanted to be involved and, as a young person, knowing that we can have a say about the running of our city is quite cool."

The members are not paid for their work on the panel and must juggle schoolwork with meetings and panel commitments.

They have returned from a leadership camp, where they took part in team-building activities and got to know one another.

"We have such varied opinions and backgrounds, which I think is good. There's a lot of us but it doesn't hurt to have so many - it encourages more debate," Mr Crosby said.

One of the first items on the agenda is to ensure the panel lasts.

"The worst thing would be that the founding youth panel was the first and only panel. We want to look at setting up the Super City system so that it keeps the youth panel and, therefore, keeps the youth voice."

Albany ward councillor Michael Goudie is the council liaison for the panel and, at 26, is the youngest councillor at the table.

He says the panel lets young Aucklanders know that they are an important influence on the city.

"There's often been a gap in councils, in that the voice from youth is not heard. But young people are very knowledgeable and they know what they want for their city."

Speaking about the panel, Mr Goudie said: "They've only had, I think, two official meetings, but I'm blown away by the debate. It's really robust and sometimes more lively than you would see in chambers."