This report has found that eGovernment could play a crucial role in helping to re-engage Auckland youth with local government. Youth adoption of online technology in New Zealand is immense with 91% if young New Zealander’s having access to the internet (Fryer, Kalafatelis and Palmer, 2009). In addition while young people are disillusioned with local government, they are not apolitical and have exhibited a willingness to use eGovernment. The report will begin by proving a background to the issue before outlining the current themes related to youth engagement with local government both world-wide and in an Auckland context. A theoretical discussion outlining the various terms and theories related to youth specific civic engagement and the use of eGovernment will then follow. This will allow for a discussion of why youth’s participation in local government is important before outlining why eGovernment use is particularly suited to youth. A comparative institutional analysis of case studies will allow a discussion surrounding the ability of eGovernment’s use to address the issue of youth disengagement, allowing for creation of an eGovernment based Youth Hub specifically targeted to the needs of Auckland youth’s. This framework will consist of an analysis of theoretical frameworks and insights as well as through the real-life case studies included in the report. An in-depth discussion of the appropriate recommendations gleaned off the included research, the potential benefits and limitations of implementing and delivering on the recommendations will follow along with a series of alternative approaches that local government could consider.
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