Budget 2025: What's in it for the youth?
First year law students Yuri and Shaun at the University of Waikato.
Photo:
RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod
Hamilton has been the youngest city in New Zealand since 1998. On a recent grey autumn morning, RNZ spoke to the young, and the young adjacent, in the city to find out what they would like to see in Budget 2025.
At the University of Waikato, students were not sure about the finer points of the country's finances. Most did not know when the Budget was due to be delivered, by who, or why.
But they did have some ideas on what the government could do to help students and young people.
Yuri and Shaun were first year law students on their way to class. Shaun said he did not know who oversaw the government's Budget, but he did have a request.
"Can I say less taxes? Can we lower the taxes please?"
Yuri thought making food less expensive would be helpful.
"It gets expensive, especially for families who have single parents," she said.
A couple of Year 13 students were at a university discovery day. They said public transport was a priority.
"Making it cheaper and more accessible," said one.
"When I went over to Australia, in Melbourne the transport was quite good. Over here it's not as good," said another.
Education and job opportunities were also high on the list for students RNZ spoke to.
Public transport, education, and employment were themes which also came up with those who support young people in the city.
Mary Jensen works for Smart Waikato, helping youth find employment and education.
She thought young employees deserved a better reputation.
"Young people are full of energy and vitality, they are clever, they are quick, they actually make work fun we believe," she said.
But in the latest quarterly labour market statistics, youth unemployment was 12.9 percent, more than double the
national average of 5.1 percent
.
Jensen said when the economy was down, young people were the first to suffer.
"Really what we need is the economy to get going so that employers can offer more employment. And we need employers also to see that young people are a great way of building their workforce."
She said the government can help by supporting more opportunities in the workforce for young people, such as
continuing Apprenticeship Boost
.
"But anything the government can do to help stimulate the economy is probably the best thing that could happen."
At 32 years old, Louise Hutt is the youngest elected member on the Hamilton City Council.
She thought politicians needed to listen more to young people.
"I don't think there is enough focus on young people, and I don't think there is enough respect for young people either," she said.
The youngest elected member of the Hamilton City Council, Louise Hutt.
Photo:
Supplied
Hutt said it was not just about what was funded - but what was forgotten - each Budget.
"We've seen the government choose to deprioritise climate action and choose to deprioritise public transport, and those are the things that can make a massive difference to kids right now."
Back at the University of Waikato, student union president Temepara Smith said he saw students struggling every day.
"We have a kai cupboard which we are using right now to help some students who can't afford to put any food on the table because of their rent," he said.
Waikato Student Union president Temepara Smith.
Photo:
Supplied
Support with the cost of living was vital, he said.
"It's getting harder and harder for all of our students to access education, and to stick around too."
But he was not holding his breath for the upcoming Budget to solve many problems students and young people faced.
"Successive governments on both sides just haven't done enough. We feel that year in and year out, always just underwhelming and not anywhere near expectations."
People will have to wait until 22 May to see whether Finance Minister Nicola Willis can surprise Smith and meet some of the aspirations of youth in New Zealand's youngest city.
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