A Youth Access to Alcohol (Yata) group has been re-established in Wanaka, following a meeting last week to gauge support for the move.
Yata groups operate throughout New Zealand with support from the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (Alac).
They aim to provide education and carry out research into alcohol-related harm to youth and issues around supplying alcohol to minors.
Yata was previously active in Wanaka but went into recess about 18 months ago.
It has now been relaunched as a result of input and support from various community entities.
Kahu Youth Trust youth worker Kim Holmes led the drive to get Yata up and running again in Wanaka and was thrilled with the response to last Friday's meeting, which was attended by representatives of the police, Public Health South, the Friends of Mount Aspiring College group and community board chairman Lyal Cocks.
‘‘There was such a positive attitude from everyone in the room and everyone was really keen to get things moving and get some action happening,'' Miss Holmes said.
The group discussed Yata's history, including various projects Yata groups in Wanaka and throughout New Zealand had been involved with, such as parent packs, after-ball party planning and advertising campaigns.
Funding was discussed.
Miss Holmes said the next round of Alac funding closed off in a few days, which did not leave the new Yata group enough time to put together an application.
It would instead wait for the February fundraising round and focus in the meantime on ‘‘cost-free initiatives'', particularly for during the busy Christmas and New Year period.
Alac grants of up to $10,000 were available for Yata groups, she said.
Project ideas raised at the meeting included radio advertising recorded by teenagers, a short film to play before local movie screenings, and the use of contemporary media, such as text messaging and the internet, to deliver Yata information.
‘‘The main thing that we've talked about is, as well as outlining the consequences and negative aspects [of youth drinking], we want to make sure the messages are really positive . . . rather than just telling people what not to do.''
- Yata meetings will be held once a month in Wanaka, with an open invitation extended for the next meeting on Friday, July 24, at 11am in the Faulks Room at the Lake Wanaka Centre.
That meeting will establish a formal committee structure.
Miss Holmes hoped to involve some young people on the committee also.
