The aim of the initiative - supported by Students Against Drink Driving and Waitaki community safety officer Alison Banks - was to get people to look past certain types of clothing to see the young person inside.
The "faces" of the initiative were Sergeant Dan Keno, of Oamaru police, and retired sergeant and now Project Turnaround co-ordinator Derek Beveridge.
Favoured by hip-hop culture and street gangs in the United States, hooded sweatshirts had been unfairly linked with youth crime in New Zealand, Mrs Banks said.
"Like young people, hoodies are often incorrectly stereotyped and often get a bad rap. Youth Week aims to foster a society in which young people are supported and nurtured," she said.
Waitaki Sadd chairwoman Jess Russell (17) said while young people did need to think about how they were impacting on others, older people and those affected by the image of a hoodie needed to think about the way they were "tarring everyone with the same brush".
"A person wearing a hoodie isn't necessarily bad. It is what is under the hoodie that counts. Given the chance, a hoodie can be your best friend - stylish, warm, comforting and cosy."
Sadd wanted the community to get involved with Hoodie Day by wearing a hooded jacket on May 30 and for businesses and organisations to encourage staff to wear one.
