Tauranga has been awarded more than $100,000 to set up a youth centre to be developed and managed by the youths themselves.
The Youth Space Project at Merivale Community Centre is the first initiative of its kind in the city.
Initially 15 young people will be involved, mainly from Tauranga South.
The Ministry of Youth Development funding will be used to build the leadership and ownership skills of the group, which will go on to form the project's inaugural board.
Merivale Community Centre services manager Graham Cameron says the young people are enthusiastic about using these skills to help peers at risk.
