Urban leisure – Young people in central Christchurch

22 March 2004

On Wednesday the Christchurch City Council will launch a video which examines the range of leisure activities that attract young people to the central city.

The video is one result of a survey by the Council’s Children’s and Youth Advocacy Team and highlights the diversity and different interests of young people aged from 10 –18 years.

“We’d had some feedback, mainly from adults, saying there was nothing for their kids to do in the central city,” says Marcella Herrera, the project coordinator. “So we wanted to find out if young people agreed and what, if anything, there was available for them in the middle of town.

“What we found was a huge range of things which attract our younger citizens,” she says. “I think a lot of people will be surprised at the results.”

More than 500 young people were surveyed in different parts of the city – Cashel Mall, the Bus Exchange, QEII and Pioneer stadiums, the Fendalton and New Brighton libraries, the Belfast Skate Park and the Arts Centre.

An associated report based on the survey will be available soon and will cover variables such as age, ethnicity, transport, disposable income and why they do, or do not, come into the central city.

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