Meet the Hurunui Youth Council Team

Kia Ora everyone, my name is Aliannah Thompson, and this will be my third year on the council.

I like to be involved as much as possible and have found that my interest in civics has only grown since entering this space, I also enjoy physical activity in its many forms including sports, playing with my animals and just keeping active in my busy lifestyle. I also am involved in many spaces that peak my interest whether it be cultural groups or just helping out my community.

Although many issues I feel I want to solve, I am passionate about providing and endorsing opportunities within our rural communities whether it be about employment, future skills, or fun outings they benefit our community greatly. There are many projects coming up that I'm excited to get stuck into, including the growth of my portfolio, YES Camp, and continuing the youth formals for 2025.

What superhero power do you wish you had and why? The power of the elements, how cool would it be to be able to light a campfire with a finger, freeze your ice cream instantly, clean up rubbish utilizing wind or water a garden with just your mind.

Kia ora, my name is Madi, this is my second year on the Youth Council. In my spare time I enjoy music, and art.

What issues are you passionate about?

Creating equal opportunities and connections in the community. I am also passionate about education, creating better pathways and opportunities for youth.

What projects are you keen to get involved in 2025?

I’m keen to be on the education portfolio and provide easier access to youth funding and grants.

What superpower do you wish you had and why?

I'd wish for shape shifting as it could be used in any scenario to make things easier and would allow me to experience life from a completely different perspective.

My name is Kathrynne!

I like writing, art, gold jewelry, reading, saxophone solos on pop songs, and I appreciate good architecture.

I aspire to be a lawyer, but I also want to study different things (picking what I want to do in Uni gave me an identity crisis, there’s too many options) and have around 15 different degrees across different majors by the time I’m 35.

If I could have any kind of superpower, I would choose illusionism and show everyone my dog.

I am passionate about education and pathways, about making young people around the community excited about going to work in a career they love. Watching someone engage and jump at opportunities that could set them up for the pathways they want to follow is an enlightening feeling, and I hope to inspire many to do so.

I also would like to extend support to the art community, giving artists, writers, poets, and other creative creators a space to show off their pieces and increase artistic inspiration to young, talented people.

Currently, I am on two portfolios: Careers and Pathways, and Local and National Politics. I hope to make my time here on the Council count and be a good representation to the youth here in Hurunui.

Hi, I'm Lexi. I am 16 years old, and this is my first year on the HYC.

Last year I was a part of the Hurunui College HYP group, which was so much fun and pushed me to want to do more for the community.

I am a golfer, and a member of Clearwater Golf Club. I have been lucky enough to represent Canterbury multiple times since 2021. Issues I am passionate about is youth mental health, and equal opportunity for all so every young person has a chance to thrive.

In 2025 I hope to give the youth of Hurunui a chance to thrive in their interests through fun events, and make sure youth have easy access to mental health resources. A superhero power I wish I had is the ability to freeze time.

Hi Everyone, My Name's Dylan, & I'm proudly a Drummer.

I just generally love everything Music, and I'm always aiming to expand my musical taste.

This is my first year in the Youth Council. I wish to ensure, with support from the rest of the Youth Council, that Youth from across the Hurunui get a say in what we do. I also care about inequality.

Projects I want to be involved in: Anything to do with helping Autistic people, as well as disabled people in our district. Maybe even something in relation to Road Safety.

If I could have a superhero power: I would probably pick the ability to fly, on the count that it eliminates the need to drive a vehicle and get stuck in traffic.

Hello, I'm Sylvia.

This is my first year as a Hurunui Youth Councilor.

My passion in life is cricket, whether that is playing or watching it. I also enjoy going to the gym and cooking all sorts of recipes.

I am passionate about making the Hurunui District a better (and more fun) place for young people to be. In 2025 I am keen to improve young people's access to cricket in our area. This would mean running skill development sessions!

If I were to have any superpower it would be the ability to fly. I think it would be a really fun way to get around.

Hi, I’m Gypsy. I am a year 11 student at Amuri Area School.

In 2024 I was a proud member of HYP and I’m thrilled to be a Hurunui Youth Councilor for 2025.

Outside of School and Youth Council, I keep myself very busy. I enjoy many things including airsoft, listening to music and hanging out with family and friends. The activity I love the most though is writing. My skill and passion for writing has ended me up in multiple young writers' workshops and I have even been published in the Write On Magazine. I have received multiple awards for my public speaking and writing including the lion's speech cup for intermediate level in 2024.

I strive myself in being a friendly, confident person in which people can come to me for help. I’m really passionate about the mental health of young people and the economic problems we have in the world.

I would like to be able to make help for young people in our community more available and discuss ways we could move forward to become an eco-friendlier area.

If I could have any superhero ability, I would be able to shapeshift with the ideal of being able to breathe underwater, fly and talk to animals.

Hi! My name's Taylor. I'm a year 13 student from Hurunui College who has now been in the Hurunui Youth Council for 3 years!!

I have a love for art and design and do photography as a side project. I'm passionate about making sure the local youth feel like their voice is heard and that they don't need to feel that they can't make a change yet.

I want to make sure everyone has a chance to voice their thoughts and opinions no matter how small or big they are. I'm keen to help my fellow councilors make a change in all projects we are committed to help start.

If I had any superhero power, I'd think I'd have to go with being able to transform into anything! No more bad hair days for me!

Kia Ora, I’m Shea!

I’m passionate about staying active, as I love playing sports. Trading stocks is another hobby I’m very passionate about. It helps me learn about economics, as well as making money.

One of my biggest passions is caring for the environment. Our planet’s future depends on us, and I believe that if we don’t take care of the earth, it won’t take care of us. I’m also deeply committed to tackling inequality, because everyone deserves the same opportunities in life.

In 2025, I’m excited to get involved in local environmental projects. I would also like to help raise awareness of the injustices happening in the world today.

If I could have any superpower, I’d choose to live as long as I like without aging. That way, I could achieve more, gain more knowledge, and continue working toward making the world a better place for everyone.

Hi, I'm Hayley.

In my spare time I like to go to the gym, spend my time painting and drawing, or hunting for cool looking rocks and bones. My favourite sport is field hockey. My personal best deadlift is 80kgs.

I'm passionate about the matters of rural mental health for all youth, the environment, along with learning more about my culture and the world of Māori in my day-to-day life.

What projects are you keen to get involved in 2025?

Trying to make mental-health help more accessible to all youth while ensuring young people have a positive and accessible outlet to talk about their issues. Along with running activities for all our youth to get involved in and enjoy.

What superhero power do you wish you had and why?

Shapeshifting, with the right creativity you can shift to be as strong as a gorilla or fly like bird. Want a change? Shapeshift your hair colour, hair style. and have the ability to look however you want every day. No choice too permanent.

Hello, my name is Jack.

I am a student at Cheviot Area School. I hope to be a game developer in the near future, and I am very fond of cats. I am very passionate about making sure young people can get the support they need in any area in their life they may need help with. Whether that be their mental health, education or finances.

What projects are you keen to get involved in 2025?

Help out during events such as the formals and camps.

What superpower do you wish you had and why?

I would like to be able to teleport. I would never have to spend time traveling anywhere and I would never be late to an event again!

Kia Ora, my name is Zinnea and this is my first year on the Hurunui Youth Council.

I joined the Hurunui Youth Council because I want to help make a real difference for young people in our community and to grow as a leader along the way. In my free time I like to read and write.

I am passionate about youth mental health and cultural competency. If I were to have any superpower it would be mind control.