Youth civic participation in local government, Aotearoa New Zealand : constraints and options for empowerment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract

This research examined youth civic participation in four youth councils in Aotearoa New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa NZ) local government, focusing on how institutional contexts facilitate and constrain meaningful engagement in line with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989). It explored how youth councillors express voice, exercise agency, and construct civic and political identities. The study employed a qualitative, interpretivist approach underpinned by a social constructionist lens. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 youth and 6 adult staff, alongside analysis of institutional documents and council websites. Both institutional logics and internal dynamics shaped the extent to which youth councillors could substantively participate in policymaking. Two orientations emerged, generating divergent practices and participatory outcomes across council sites: a youth development logic characterised by symbolic inclusion and constrained agency, and a participatory rights logic marked by consultation and informed engagement. The findings demonstrated that rights-based practice can be incrementally adopted, and hybrid approaches integrating youth development and rights-based logics could strengthen participatory outcomes. Through training and the application of conceptual tools, youth councillors cultivated reflexive practice, enabling them to recognise tokenism, identify structural barriers, and build relationships across social and ethnic lines. This practice, combined with targeted outreach, generated bridging social capital and strengthened connections with diverse and underrepresented communities. Also, regional variation in community-based youth civic initiatives highlighted that social capital develops unevenly across contexts, underscoring the importance of council investment in youth specific civic infrastructure. When supported by institutional scaffolding, such as resourcing youth led initiatives, project-based activities, and partnerships with community organisations, youth councils can act as catalysts for wider civic engagement.