In June, we hosted our quarterly youth worker hui at Shore Junction. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout, with 21 passionate professionals who work with young people across the North Shore gathering to connect, share insights, and collaborate.

While the hui focused on strengthening our local support networks, the absolute highlight of the day was an interactive session unpacking the ever-evolving world of youth slang. To effectively support our rangatahi (youth), we have to understand their world, and that includes the language they use online and in person.

To ensure our team left cooking (doing something well) and not cooked (defeated), we dove headfirst into the latest slang dictionary. We learned that when a young person does something flawlessly, they "ate and left no crumbs," and if an event has an incredible vibe, its "aura" is unmatched. We debated the fine line between a "green flag" (positive trait) and a "red flag" (warning sign), and laughed over internet-born terms like "skibidi" (chaotic/absurd) and telling someone to "touch grass" when they’ve spent too much time scrolling TikTok or playing computer games. Understanding this lexicon isn’t trying to look cool (which, let’s be honest, would be total "cap" (lie)). It’s about breaking down barriers, ensuring our communication isn't "dry" (boring), and actively listening to the audience, or the "chat" (group of people), we work with every day.

A massive "shot" (thank you) to everyone who attended and brought their amazing energy to the table. With a network this dedicated, youth work on the Shore is truly "goated" (greatest of all time).  To find out more about our quarterly hui and to be added to the invite list, please email conin@shorejunction.nz.