Nationwide youth organisation Zeal has secured a property in the heart of Paraparaumu for a youth development facility to be built in partnership with the Kāpiti Coast District Council.
Kāpiti’s young people can look forward to visiting the $1 million youth facility to be built within two years next to Pak’nSave at 130 Rimu Road.
“With this location secured, the town sends a welcome message to Kāpiti’s youth, bringing their value front and centre for all to see,” says Zeal CEO Brook Turner.
Just four weeks after signing a contract with Kāpiti Coast District Council to provide a youth development facility in the district, Zeal has signed a nine-year lease on the prominent Coastlands site.
The site was previously used as storage for Pak’nSave Kāpiti. The supermarket’s co-owner Glen Taylor – a former Kāpiti College pupil – says, “We are supportive of Zeal building and operating a youth facility on the site and believe it is a good community investment for the district. Our young people will be better off with Zeal in Kāpiti.”
To choose the site, Zeal drew on research conducted by Kāpiti Coast District Council’s youth advisory group over the last 18 months, as well as advice from youth advocacy groups such as the Kāpiti Youth Council and Nga Kakano group, a Maori youth leadership group.
“Siting the centre in a highly visible location, close to transport links, sends a message to our young people that we value them and are serious about investing in their potential as citizens and future leaders of the district,” says Kāpiti Mayor Ross Church.
The Mayor adds that the council is proud to be partnering with Zeal on the delivering of its long-held vision for a dedicated youth development facility in Kāpiti.
Zeal will now begin designing, fundraising and refitting the Rimu Road building. It is expected this work will take between 18 and 24 months. Once open the facility will provide safe events free from alcohol and drugs, music rehearsal spaces, after school youth programmes and training in creative skills.
