Rotorua youth organise Amazing Race for other young people

A group of Rotorua high school students are hoping to encourage other young people to be active in the community through a youth-led event.

The group, from Western Heights High School, is organising an Amazing Race as part of the Gateway work-experience programme.

Preslee Stevens, 17, is working on promoting the event and said while there had been other Amazing Race events, she believed this was the first entirely youth-led race.

"We have organised it from scratch including applying for funding, prizes and meetings with stakeholders.

"We hope to make this an annual event to keep youth motivated and excited for the race each year."

Preslee Stevens, 17, (front) is among the Western Heights High School students organising Amazing Race. Photo / Ben Fraser

Preslee said the event was aimed at youth but adults were able to join provided they had two young people and two females in the team.

She said the pit stops in the race would be challenging and require the whole team to work together.

"This event encourages young people to get out and about, have fun, complete challenges with their peers and engage with adults and the community."

She said the event would be challenging mentally and physically but there were prizes up for grabs.

Alan Tane Solomon, OneChance chief enthusiast, said he was really excited for the event.

"The youth have had 100 per cent free rein to organise it. From the funding to the pit stops and the entertainment."

Key information
What: Amazing Race youth event. More than $2000 cash and prizes up for grabs, plus pizza and live entertainment at the prizegiving.
When: October 27, check in 9am, prizegiving 3pm, free entry
Where: Starts at the Rotorua Youth Centre.
Who: Teams of five. Limited space so register online at onechance.nz/amazingrace.