Wanganui East and Aramoho communities will be asked to get aboard with programmes aimed at steering the young people in their suburb on a better pathway.
The programmes are being driven by the Community Taskforce on Youth Wellbeing, a taskforce jointly led by the Wanganui District Council and local iwi.
The taskforce was set up in 2007 to co-ordinate and create initiatives that will assist young people to make more positive and worthwhile choices and support the work of other agencies working in this area.
District councillor Philippa Baker-Hogan, who co-chairs the taskforce, said police and some members of the taskforce who live in both areas recognised there was a rising issue with young people being attracted to gangs.
"But while there is concern about this, we see an opportunity to do something positive," Councillor Baker-Hogan said.