A new electronic tracking system for Kahu Youth has shown that around a quarter of Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students are actively involved with the youth organisation. 

Kahu Youth worker Richard Elvey said this amounted to around 250 to 270 young people, and because the tracking system was installed just a few months ago for a period covering Christmas closure, the true average number could be higher.

Richard said the organisation has around 500 to 600 young people on its books in total. 

Recent funding has allowed Kahu Youth, which provides programmes and social services for young people, to increase the number of staff on the payroll and engage more in the community. 

But the high numbers make for a squeeze at the organisation’s base on Russell Street.

“We have 270 young people coming through the doors and a 120m2 house,” Richard said. “There were 47 people through the other day.”

Kahu Youth is continuing to search for a new premises for the future, but the immediate pressure has eased on leaving their Russell Street ‘crib’ for now as Covid-19 has changed the property owners’ plans for the site.

“I think they wanted to turn it into a backpackers, so we are alright for now,” Richard told the Wanaka Community Board (WCB) at last week’s meeting. “A couple of years ago things were very stressful but now we are not too stressed”

Still, Richard told the Wanaka App, “we’re definitely actively keeping our eyes open”.

Like others, Kahu Youth was one of the organisations “sniffing around” the former Mitre 10 building as a potential future premises, along with other sites, Richard said.

The recent funding boost, from Central Lakes Trust among others, has broadened Kahu Youth’s offerings and the number of staffers has increased now to three full-timers and two part-timers. 

“It’s very, very exciting times,” Richard said.

PHOTO: Supplied