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YouthFest 2025 was our biggest youth-led event yet! Every year during Youth Week, Youth Voices Action hosts YouthFest to celebrate the creativity, talent, courage, and leadership of young people in the Bay of Plenty.
This isn’t just a festival. It’s a youth-led movement and a reflection of what’s possible when young people don’t just get invited to the table, but help design the whole thing.
More than 1200 people came through to Tauranga’s Waterfront for our free community event, packed with youth-run stalls, live performances, interactive workshops, and the kind of real conversations that matter.
But it wasn’t just about showcasing talent (though there was plenty of that). YouthFest was a space where young people spoke up, and we listened.
Through surveys and kōrero on the day, rangatahi told us what they want to see more of:
Real talk about the pressures of social media and how to tell what’s real from what’s not.
Tools to help navigate healthy relationships and boundaries with friends, partners, and whānau.
Honest discussion about dating, coercive control, and the tough stuff young people often face alone.
YouthFest made support accessible. No pressure, no lectures, just a cool, welcoming space where youth-focused services were easy to find, and young people could connect with them on their terms.
This event wasn’t just about the day. It was about building trust. It was about backing youth leadership, not just talking about it.
We’re now using what we heard to shape what comes next, starting with FluroFest this October during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Want to be part of it? Come learn more, get involved, and let’s keep building spaces where young people lead the way.