Kia ora koutou katoa,
Our names are Rachel Gu and Laura Mackenzie, and we are both privileged to be serving as the Younite chairs for 2025! As you may have seen in the community over the past few years, Younite has been actively promoting youth engagement and empowerment through various events and social gatherings. However, if you are not already familiar with Younite, let us reintroduce exactly who we are and what we do.
Younite is the youth council for the Takapuna-Devonport Local Board. Our team is made up of rangatahi from local schools, aged 15-24, all of whom are passionate about creating change in the community. Our mission statement is: “Encouraging self-expression, amplifying youth voices, and fostering a community where rangatahi can succeed.” In alignment with the council’s vision, we will be focusing on “Our people, Our environment, Our community, and Our places.” We’re so excited to have you join us in 2025!
Here’s a welcome from our chairs:
Hi! I’m Rachel (she/her)! I’m a Year 13 student at Rangitoto College and have been a member of Younite since early 2024. A little about me – I’m super-passionate about empowering youth and creating a positive impact in the local community, and I’m a huge Swiftie! I’m so excited to work alongside Laura as chair for 2025, and I can’t wait for the amazing journey ahead! “Are you ready for it…” – Taylor Swift.
Kia ora, I’m Laura (she/her)! I’m currently a Year 12 student at Westlake Girls High School and am beyond excited to be serving as one of Younite’s chairs for 2025, alongside Rachel. I’ve been a member of this board since late 2023, and I’ve lived in the Takapuna-Devonport area for most of my life. I’m also an absolute bookworm and love spending time with friends and family. This year, I’m extremely excited to meet the new people joining Younite and to collaborate with them in empowering rangatahi in our lovely community!
If you ever have any queries or would like to contact us, please feel free to email us at younitechair@gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram using our handle: @Younitedt.
