Meet the Hurunui Youth Council Team

Hello, I'm Sylvia.

This is my second year as a Hurunui Youth Councilor and I am going into Year 12 at Rangiora High.

I am extremely passionate about cricket both playing and watching. I also enjoy playing hockey and going to the gym. In 2026 my key focus within Youth Council is to put our ideas from 2025 into action. I am looking forward to learning how to organise an event!

If i could have any superpower, I would want super intelligence. It would be awesome to have a role in solving some of the issues our world is facing.

Kia ora, I'm Hayley, a Year 13 and Art Kaiārahi at Amuri Area School. This will be my third year on the Hurunui Youth Council.

Some details about me, I have many hobbies that I am passionate about some of the biggest being the arts, kapa haka and weightlifting.

I have always had an interest in helping the youth of our country in all aspects but especially mental health, the environment and Te Ao Māori. I am proud to be representing the youth of Hurunui and my iwi.

These passions are what drove me to the Youth Council.

There have been many great experiences from being in the Youth Council that I look forward to becoming even stronger this year and in the approaching future.

Kia ora, I’m Weramu Steen-Taylor. I’m a Year 12 student currently attending Cheviot Area School, this is my first year as a HYC Member.

I am excited to be on HYC to be a voice for all young people of our community.

Outside of school, I enjoy fishing and spending time outdoors and I am a social person who enjoys connecting with others.

I am passionate about making sure young people feel heard and supported, and I aim to be approachable and open to ideas while helping create positive opportunities for our community.

My name is Dylan Mirk, I am currently 19 years old and this is my 2nd year on the Hurunui Youth Council.

I love music - it is a personal dream of mine to actually make music myself, I guess we’ll see what comes of that with time. As well as music, I have an interest in Local Government, hence I am a Youth Councillor!

I am very keen to get much more involved this year, and be one of those people that can make things happen for our districts youth. I’m also keen on working to educate our young people this year on the General Elections.

If i had a superpower, it would be the ability to generate money, so i could simply assist families nationwide with paying their bills, who otherwise may not be able to in this economy.

Kia ora, I'm Gypsy Thornton. I am a year 12 student that is currently attending Amuri Area School. I was previously in HYP in 2024 and a Youth Council member as well as the Amuri Committee Youth Representative in 2025.

I'm extremely excited to continue my journey in leadership and student representation.

I am the youngest Kaiarahi Prefect my school has had and also a Whānau Leader for 2026. Outside of school and meetings, I am a social person, who likes to spend time with friends and family. Activities I often take part in are public speaking, writing, listening to music, walking and art.

I'm a person who is passionate about mental health and allowing student voice to be heard, I strive to be a person who is easily approachable and a safe space for people young and old. I would like to acheive being a sounding board for people to bring ideas to so we as a community can grow.

My name is Bailey, I’m currently 16 but turning 17 very soon and this is my first year in the Hurunui Youth Council.

My passion in life is sport, I love the aspect of meeting new people and expressing emotion through different ways which I’m able to do in sport. my main sports I play is tennis and soccer.

I’m really passionate about giving people in the Hurunui area a better place to express themselves as a way to help with mental health.

If I had to pick one superpower, it would probably be the ability to teleport...

I mean could you imagine how easy Christmas would be?

Kia Ora, my name is Astara, this is my first year on the Hurunui Youth Council. I am a Year 12 student at Hurunui College.

I am the student representative at my school, student council member and house captain. I am also apart of the Waipara Fire Brigade.

Mental health is an issue I am very passionate about and finding support for those who struggle with it.

Dealing with inequality is also something I'm very committed about solving because everyone deserves equal chances and opportunities in life.

In 2026, I want to create more opportunities for youth to meet new people by running more events, improving mental health by making help more accessible, allowing them to have a positive outlet for their issues.

Hello! My name is Lexi. I am a year 13 student at Hurunui College and this will be my second year on the Hurunui Youth Council.

A little bit about me. Golf is one of my passions, and I play competitively. In recent years I have become very interested and involved with leadership opportunities in the district, hence coming back to the Youth Council for 2026, becoming a Head Student at my school, and getting involved with Students Against Dangerous Driving. In my spare time I enjoy writing, reading and going to the gym.

This year I am super excited to work with our wonderful council group! I hope to help run some cool activities for the youth of Hurunui and educate young people about road safety, and transitioning into different areas of life such as becoming a high-schooler.

Kia Ora, I’m Shea, a year 12 student at Hurunui College. I am a Head Student at Hurunui, and this is my second year serving on the Youth Council.

I am an active person, and I have a strong passion for sports such as tennis, football, and downhill mountain biking! Currently I am interested in the fields of Aerospace and GIS,

as I foresee these fields playing a big role in terms of the future of NZ.

I am proud to be a part of the Youth Council, and I am passionate about making a difference in our community and getting stuff done.

If I could choose one superpower it would be the ability to never crash, because I fall off of my bike more than I would like to admit😅

Kia Ora. I’m Mark Vidal. A year 12 student from Amuri Area School and this is my first year as a Hurunui Youth Councilor 2026. I spend my free time being with my dad, creating music, singing in the shower, shredding on the guitar, playing basketball, cooking, reading a book and gaming.

I am a follower of Chirst and as a young Christian, i have experienced mental health issues like depression and anxiety. I would love to use myself as an example for young teenagers who struggle with their personal wellbeing.

We differ in culture but being able to express it and share it with other people is another way to create unity.

This year, i also want to help out the youth by opening new opportunities for them.

I am looking forward towards 2026 as a member of HYC.

Kia ora tātou, My name is Sophia Antonia and I’m a year 12 at Amuri Area School. This is my first year on the Hurunui Youth Council. I am looking forward to help and encourage young people in our community to have a voice.

Outside of school, meetings and work I enjoy going to the gym, shopping (typical teenage girl things 😭) and meeting new people.

Politics- nationally and locally and cultural identity/identities in our districts youth is something I look forward to improving and building in our communities.

The safety, identity and health - physically and mentally of our youth resonates deeply within me. A personal goal of mine is to make decisions with logical, rational and empathetic intent to make the Youth in our district feel heard and supported.

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” – Napolean Hill

Kia ora, my name is Zinnea. I am a Year 13 student at Hurunui College, and this is my second year on the Hurunui Youth Council.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, and spending time with my friends.

Road safety is a major issue in our district, particularly for rural youth, and it is something I am very passionate about.

I am also committed to supporting students during the transition from primary to secondary school, as I understand how overwhelming this change can be and how much anxiety and stress it can cause.

My plan for 2026 is to educate young drivers about the dangers of the road so they can become more responsible and aware.

I have already taken steps toward this goal by establishing a SADD (Students Against Dangerous Driving) group at my school, and I am currently collaborating with another school to help them set one up as well.