Labour: we will make sure disengaged youth are heard

The Labour Party is promising to improve civic education in schools and encourage young Kiwis to vote.

Labour released its youth affairs policy yesterday. It said it would also tackle issues of youth suicide and the increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

"Our young people are too important to let them simply drift without support," youth affairs spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern said.

A "major focus" in the policy was ensuring young Kiwis were being heard, she said.

"We know that many young people are simply not enrolling to vote. In 2005, they made up 50 per cent of those who did not enrol.

"While there are a range of reasons why young people are disengaged, one thing we can do is improve civic education in schools."

Labour would examine initiatives to increase voter enrolment among young people, such as providing enrolment papers with other government forms, including driver licensing and passport applications.

Ms Ardern said Labour would also adopt a mixed model of supporting youth health centres and nurses in schools.

It would ensure nationwide coverage with a focus on boosting youth mental health services, she said.

The party would ensure every school leaver had a plan for further training, education or work, Ms Ardern said

"Labour will also investigate the development of internships and community volunteer schemes whereby young people could work for up to a year," she said.

"We cannot continue to let youth unemployment rates soar because of a lack of jobs and training opportunities."

The latest policy complements Labour's plans to deal with youth unemployment announced in September, which includes converting dole payments into apprenticeships and an creating 5000 fees-free training places.