Funding has been cut by the Ministry of Youth Development for a youth development course, formerly known as the Conservation Corps.
The Department of Conservation, which hosts and partly funds the course, plans to seek a review of the decision that will end the course, aimed at 16- to 24-year-old participants, after a successful 23 years.
Doc Coastal Otago manager Robin Thomas said the course had "morphed" over the years to reflect changes in priorities for participants and for the Ministry of Youth Affairs (now Ministry of Youth Development).
In 2010 the Conservation Corps changed its name to the Otago Youth Development Course and it was shortened from 20 weeks to 10 weeks to allow for two courses a year.
"From our point of view it's been extremely successful. A large number of students have gone on to further education or into employment," Mr Thomas said. "It's extremely disappointing."
It would mean the loss of the two positions funded by the ministry to run the course, although the two people in the job were both moving away at the end of this year, one because of job uncertainty.
Mr Thomas planned to seek a review of the decision not to continue funding. The course met the criteria of the department and had a proven history of performance over many years.
Losing the course would impact on the wider community as course participants did a lot of community work, including for conservation groups.
The department would take up six months' "transition funding" the ministry had offered.
Ministry of Youth Affairs director Arthur Grooby said the focus of the Ministry of Youth Development's Services for Young People Fund had changed from education programmes to "active youth citizenship" initiatives.
The ministry was working with Doc about how it could have a new relationship with Work and Income for the programme, which was now more employment-focused.
In the meantime, the ministry had allocated Doc $61,850 from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 to support its transition to new funding sources.
Active youth citizenship initiatives helped develop skills and knowledge so that young people could develop leadership and problem-solving skills, influence decision-making and contribute positively to their community.
"The new active youth citizenship focus is about ensuring young people have the opportunity to exercise their rights as members of democratic societies and communities, and in return they are expected to contribute to society - this means being an active citizen."rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
