Young and old come head to head this Friday, in a collective brainstorming session organised by the Christchurch City Council.

"We’re bringing together young people with leadership qualities, current city leaders and older people who currently or have had a strong leadership role in the city, to pick their brains about how our community can cross the generation boundaries", says Robyn Moore, Youth Advocate, Christchurch City Council.

"Our older leaders have so much wisdom of experience, while our younger people have knowledge and intuition in touch with our ever changing social and technological environment. Put that together and we should get a really interesting exchange of ideas."

The inaugural Meeting of the Generations will consider the following issue:

"Community: How can we get more people actively involved?"

According to the Council advocacy team, this first Meeting of the Generations is only the beginning. "We think there is great value in providing a forum for all generations to debate topical issues. Their ideas may well be ultimately incorporated into council’s plans for the City," says Robyn Moore.

The date for the forum is significant, being the day before International Day of the Family, for which this year’s theme is ‘older persons valuing the contribution of youth’.

Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore is to chair the meeting.

Observers and media are most welcome to attend the discussion.

For further information: