Free skating and scooter competition

Live life, ride and commit - that's the message behind a free skating and scooter competition this Saturday which has been organised for young Taupo people.

The competition, at the Taupo skatepark, is being organised by Kiriwera Holland, Joseph Taite and Tione Waiariki after they were successful in gaining Rise funding from The Werry Foundation.

Rise is a project for young people to apply for a grant to carry out their own project promoting well-being and youth mental health awareness to other young people.

It is a project of The Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, which is funded by the Ministry of Health.

The boys, all members of Taupo's B-Xtreme Skate Group, were granted $2900 to run their competition.

B-Xtreme is a charitable trust which was set up earlier this year to raise money to enable local youngsters to participate in events as part of the club locally and nationally.

It has about 30 registered members, ranging in age from 5 to 19.

Mentor Chareese Henarae said the three boys, aged between 12 and 14, found out about the funding themselves and applied for it and arranged the competition with little outside help.

She will judge parts of the competition, with older Taupo skaters also on the judging panel.

"It's about holding the skate competition but doing it in a way that can bring a positive mental health message," she said.

This is the first competition the group has run.

Registrations for the event will take place from 10am with competition starting at 10.30am.