Youth Week began in 1995 with a handful of events scattered throughout Canada. Since then it has gathered momentum and is now celebrated each year in countries all around the world. Aotearoa New Zealand first marked Youth Week in the late 1990s, with NZAAHD weaving the first festivals and later entrusting it’s celebrations to Ara Taiohi in 2010.
Below are the previous Youth Week Themes
2025: Take Our Place – Whai Wāhitanga.
2024: We may not have it all together, but together we have it all – Māwherangi a tama roto ka taka, kāpuia ake ka pūrangiaho.
2023: Leaders of tomorrow? today! – Ehara ahau i te rangatira mō āpōpō, engari he rangatira ahau mō tēnei rā.
2022: Our voices matter. We deserve to be heard – Taringa whakarongo! ki te reo o ngā taiohi.
2021: We’re stronger together – He waka eke noa
