Six students represented Orewa College at the Auckland Model Local Council, debating issues and building leadership skills at Town Hall.

The future councillors of Auckland

Six of our students recently stepped into the roles of real councillors at the Auckland Town Hall for the UN Youth Auckland Model Local Council.

Abby Birks, Maria Walker-Kinnell, Bruno McLeod, Alyssa Sou, Ash Collins, and Santhiya Vasanthamohan spent the day debating local issues, passing amendments, and working together to find solutions, just like real council representatives.

The event, run by UN Youth Auckland, gives ākonga a hands-on experience of local democracy. It focuses not just on politics, but also on building confidence, public speaking, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Photo credit: Alyssa Sou