By Sarah Fagan
Riots in London this month have caused many leading thinkers to take a renewed look at the situation of young people in New Zealand.
Links have been drawn between economic realities for youth in Britain and those in New Zealand, with New Zealand’s high comparative youth unemployment rate seeing some wonder whether similar riots could occur here.
Youth unemployment in Britain is around 20 percent, while New Zealand is sitting at 27 percent, making up 45 percent of our total unemployed population.
Rioting, looting and arson have been blamed as an outcome of youth alienation in Britain, and these figures raise the issue of whether the situation in Britain could happen in New Zealand.
Youth inclusion and participation in the community is vital according to research into the likelihood of the UK riots happening in New Zealand.
High levels of unemployment, poverty, higher tuition fees and across the board government cuts are, according to some, just a few of the drivers behind the August riots.
Eminent Senior Lecturer of Sociology at Victoria University Dr. Mike Lloyd commented that “there has been inequality in Britain for centuries, but riots aren’t a regular occurrence. The issue is very complex”.
A report on household incomes by the Ministry of Social Development shows the child poverty rate in New Zealand in 2010 has doubled since the early 1980s. However, this does not mean young people experiencing relative poverty are more inclined to riot.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Youth Development is giving young people a place in decision-making to build a broader base of citizen involvement and create stronger, more inclusive communities.
Alison McDonald from the Ministry of Social Development said young people have a huge role in developing our society and culture.
“Research shows that young people have creativity, energy, idealism and fresh thinking but that these assets are often overlooked,” she said. “They are disproportionately represented among civic innovators and they are people who are committed to creating new, constructive citizen-centred opportunities.”
The chief executive of YMCA New Zealand Ric Odom said youth inclusion within societies “is absolutely the key” in terms of prevention of similar riots happening in New Zealand.
“It’s when young people become disengaged problems occur. Involvement needs to begin in the family, through school and then within the community”.
Sarah Fagan is working with UNICEF as part of the 3Youth project, an upcoming section of the 3 News website focusing on social issues and written by young people.