The cafe, at 5 Buckleys Road, over the road from Eastgate Mall, is part of the Youth Initiatives Trust Ka Whakaaro o Ka Rakatahi, which is funded in part by the Council’s Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board and is well supported by many groups and organisations in the community.

The cafe is one of its first projects and followed extensive consultation with young people in the area.

Diverse is now offering free art lessons on Tuesday afternoons and space for budding artists to display their work, free latin dance lessons on Thursday nights and a dual pricing menu which gives the under-25s a substantial discount.

Young people did all the decorating and the cafe is run in such a way that anyone who is interested in learning the business or in volunteering to serve on the committee can become involved by talking to manager Matt Walters.

Diverse is also the base for Nic Stewart, a youth worker employed by 198 Youth Health and funded by the Community Board. Ms Stewart is linking in with schools in the area, other youth services and the neighbouring mall.