Politicians support Hoodie Day 

Politicians have shown their support for New Zealand's youth by becoming a part of the first ever Hoodie Day.

The idea is the brain-child of youth week organisers, who say hoodies often come with negative connotations.

MPs Sue Bradford, Nandor Tanczos, Metiria Turei, Hone Harawira, and Nanaia Mahuta each donned a youth week hoodie on parliament's steps to show their support.

Earlier in the week MP Ron Mark criticised the day saying the idea is bizarre, given many people, particularly elderly, are scared of teenagers walking around wearing hoodies.

But Mahuta says the idea behind Hoodie Day is to redefine people's perceptions of young people.

You will still need to keep your hood down at Coastlands Shopping Centre on the Kapiti Coast.

Coastlands banned people from wearing their hoods up in 2005, and Centre Manager Jan Forrest says Hoodie Day will be no different.

She says it is not about giving the clothing a bad reputation, but rather a measure of security and identification to keep the centre safe.

Forrest says incidences of trespassing and shoplifting have notably decreased since the mall introduced the ban.