New Zealand Youth Parliament

The New Zealand Youth Parliament, held once in each term of parliament (usually every three or four years), is an event used to promote the civic and community engagement of New Zealand youth.[1] The event has been held since 1994, and takes place at the New Zealand Parliament Buildings.[2] The latest Youth Parliament, the 9th Youth Parliament, took place on 16 and 17 July 2019.

Youth Parliament is an initiative led by the Minister for Youth, currently the Hon. Priyanca Radhakrishnan. The Minister works with a committee of their Parliamentary colleagues (representing every party in Parliament) to administer Youth Parliament.

The Minister receives support from the Ministry of Youth Development, who work closely with other agencies within the parliamentary complex including The Office of the Speaker, Parliamentary Services and the Office of the Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

Former Labour MP Darren Hughes, who once held the Statistics portfolio and was the associate minister for Social Development and Employment, was a Youth MP at the first ever Youth Parliament in 1994.[3][4] Hughes said in his maiden speech as MP that he was proud to be the first ever Youth MP to become the "real thing".[5]

History

The New Zealand Youth Parliament was first held in 1994, being held to mark the 20th anniversary of the voting age being lowered to 18.[2] The event was shorter than it is now, with young people coming to Parliament for an educational day. Due to the success of the event, Cabinet invited the Minister of Youth Affairs to continue holding the event every three or four years. Since then, the event has been held in 2019,[6] 2016,[7] 2013,[8] 2010,[9] 2007,[10] 2004,[11] 2000,[12] and 1997.[13]

Event

The Youth Parliament takes place over two days, and is designed to be as similar to the actual running of Parliament as possible. The event is typically opened by the governor-general.[13] The website of the Ministry of Youth Development says that Youth Parliament "is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to influence government decision-making as active citizens and have their views heard by key decision-makers and the public."[2]

Throughout the event Youth MPs take part in a variety of parliamentary activities. A mock bill is established and focused on, usually targeting an issue relating to youth or that youth can be involved in.[12] Youth MPs work on various select committees and consider submissions, ask questions of Cabinet Ministers, participate in debates, come together in caucus sessions and experience various other aspects of parliament.[14] Youth MPs have an opportunity to meet actual members of parliament. Members of the public can also watch mock debates in the debating chamber, as they would with a normal parliamentary debate.

As well as the Youth MPs, 20 youth press gallery members are chosen by the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and report on the event and running of parliament, similar to the actual press gallery.

The New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust runs a competition open to all Youth MPs and Youth Press Gallery members, which asks entrants to discuss the experience and what they have learned and taken back to their community.[3] In 2007 this was an essay, and in 2010 entrants created a video.[9] Prizes totaling several thousands of dollars are available to the winners.

Select committees

During the event Youth MPs work on parliamentary select committees. Each committee views and discusses submissions, and reviews related legislation. Each committee relates to a different subject. As of 2013, there were ten Youth Parliament select committees.[2] These are:

  • Social Services
  • Health
  • Transport and Industrial Relations
  • Local Government and Environment
  • Education and Science
  • Commerce
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
  • Justice
  • Maori Affairs
  • Primary Production

Selection and role

Young people, aged 16 to 18 years, from around New Zealand are chosen by their local (electorate or list) Member of Parliament (MP) to be a Youth Member of Parliament (Youth MP). There is no set process for an MP to select their Youth MP.[15] During Youth Parliament, Youth MPs have the opportunity to debate legislation, sit on select committees and ask parliamentary questions of Cabinet Ministers. Youth MPs are independent, as opposed to belonging to a parliamentary party.[16]

Around the Youth Parliament event, Youth MPs remain in the role for a period of time, and are expected to gain an understanding of the ideas and concerns of youth in the area.[17] In 2013 this was from 1 May to 1 December, with the event being held in July, and during this time period the Youth MPs had the opportunity to work with their local communities and local MP.[16]

Organisation

The organisation of Youth Parliament is overseen by the Multi-Party Parliamentary Steering Committee.[18] A representative from each party represented in Parliament is invited to join the committee. The aim is to ensure non-partisan organisation of Youth Parliament as well as active participation by all parties, to ensure that the event is successful. The Ministry of Youth Development also works on organising and promoting the event, with the Minister of Youth Development being responsible for the event overall.

10th Youth Parliament (2022)

The 10th Youth Parliament was held on 19 and 20 July 2022.[19]

Youth MPs 2022

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.[20]

9th Youth Parliament (2019)

The 9th Youth Parliament was held on 16 and 17 July 2019. The mock bill was the Sustainable Energy Bill, which debated introducing strong targets to move New Zealand to renewable energy alternatives and lower emissions.

This term of Youth Parliament made headlines on multiple occasions. Most notably, a successful motion to declare a climate emergency was moved by Chlöe Swarbrick's Youth MP, Luke Wijohn. Swarbrick herself had unsuccessfully attempted to move the same motion in Parliament weeks earlier.[22]

Youth MP, Shaneel Shavneel Lal founded the movement to end conversion therapy in New Zealand at 9th Youth Parliament after their speech during the general debate.[23] Their speech received a standing ovation at Parliament.

The event also made headlines after it was revealed that Deputy Speaker Anne Tolley had reduced Youth MP Lily Dorrance to tears after shutting down her speech on youth suicide as Dorrance was reading from her notes, which Tolley believed was against standing orders. Multiple Youth MPs raised points of order stating that this was not against standing orders as they believed there was no such rule. Dorrance later said she felt "humiliated", and Tolley subsequently apologised to both Dorrance and Speaker Trevor Mallard.[24]

Later in 2019 but still during the tenureship of the Youth MP programme, three Youth MPs, Wijohn, Arie Faber and Lily Chen, representing Swarbrick, Jan Logie and Golriz Ghahraman respectively, were ejected from Parliament's public gallery and issued with a twelve-month ban from Parliament grounds after interrupting the proceedings of the house by loudly verbally protesting the government's position on the occupation at Ihumātao. Swarbrick, Logie and Ghahraman later stated they disapproved of their Youth MPs actions.[25]

Youth MPs 2019

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.[26]

8th Youth Parliament (2016)

Youth MPs 2016

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.[27]

7th Youth Parliament (2013)

The 7th Youth Parliament was held on 16 and 17 July 2013. The mock bill topic was Electoral Reform, with discussions about reducing the voting age, introducing electronic voting, making voting compulsory and extending the Term of Parliament taking place.[2]

Youth MPs 2013

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.

6th Youth Parliament (2010)

The 6th Youth Parliament took place on 6 and 7 July 2010. The mock bill focused on creating a single age of majority, that would make a single age for different activities to become lawful, such as drinking, driving and voting ages.[9]

Youth MPs 2010

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.

5th Youth Parliament (2007)

The 5th Youth Parliament took place from 8 to 11 July 2007. This was an extended period of days compared to previous years, as a trial to fit in more events and discussion.[10] After 2007 Youth Parliament reverted to a two-day event.

Youth MPs 2007

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.[31]

4th Youth Parliament (2004)

The 4th Youth Parliament took place on 16 and 17 August 2004.[32]

Youth MPs 2004

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.

3rd Youth Parliament (2000)

Youth MPs 2000

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.[12]

2nd Youth Parliament (1997)

Youth MPs 1997

List means the individual is representing a List MP, while Electorate indicates they are representing an Electorate MP.[35]

1st Youth Parliament (1994)

Youth MPs 1994

References
  1. "Ministers feel the heat during Youth Parliament question time". One News. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  2. "Youth Parliament". Ministry of Youth Development. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. "Speaker's Reception, Youth Parliament 2007". New Zealand Parliament. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  4. "Opening of the 2007 Youth Parliament". The Pulse. July 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  5. Trevett, Claire (24 March 2011). "Hughes sought career in politics from early age". The New Zealand Herald.
  6. "Youth Parliament 2019 - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. MSD, Youth Parliament 2016 Roll-out - MYD, MSD, retrieved 15 December 2021
  8. MSD, Youth Parliament - MYD, MSD, retrieved 15 December 2021
  9. "Youth Parliament 2010". Ministry of Youth Development. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  10. "Introduction to Youth Parliament 2007". scoop.co.nz. July 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  11. "New Zealand Youth Parliament 2004 – Monday, 16 August 2004". hansard.parliament.govt.nz. 16 August 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
  12. Harré, Laila (6 July 2000). "Youth Parliament to debate decriminalisation". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. "Governor-General's Visit to Greece and London". gg.govt.nz. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. "Youth Parliament 2013 on this week". 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  15. "Becoming a Youth Member of Parliament (Youth MP)". myd.govt.nz. 2010. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010.
  16. "Youth Parliament MPs announced". parliament.nz. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  17. Kaye, Nikki (11 February 2013). "Selection Process underway for Youth Parliament 2013". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  18. "New Zealand Youth Parliament 2013 Hansard" (PDF). myd.govt.nz. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  19. "Introducing 2022 Youth Parliament!". New Zealand Parliament. 2 August 2021.
  20. "Meet our Youth Parliament 2022 participants". New Zealand Parliament. 13 December 2021.
  21. Hunt, Tom (26 November 2022). "Caeden Tipler makes their own history with Make It 16". Stuff.
  22. Dixon, Sophie (18 July 2019). "Youth Parliament 2019 declares climate emergency". rnz.co.nz. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  23. General Debate Speech Shaneel Shavneel Lal Youth Parliament 2019, retrieved 2 December 2021
  24. Cheng, Derek (17 July 2019). "Anne Tolley apologises to Youth MP and Speaker Trevor Mallard". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  25. Walls, Jason (22 August 2019). "Group of teenagers, including Youth MPs, booted from Parliament after protest". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  26. "Youth Parliament MPs 2019". New Zealand Parliament. 15 May 2019.
  27. "Youth Parliament 2016 – Youth MPs and Youth Press Gallery members – MYD". www.myd.govt.nz.
  28. https://www.myd.govt.nz/documents/youth-parliament-/2013-06-11-youth-parliament-youth-mp-and-youth-press-gallery-members.pdf
  29. "New Zealand Youth Parliament 2010 Hansard" (PDF). 7 July 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  30. "Archived copy". www.myd.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.myd.govt.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. "Fourth Youth Parliament, 2004" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2004.
  33. List, Kevin (17 August 2004). "The 2004 Youth Parliament - Photo Essay". Scoop.co.nz.
  34. "Youth Parliament: NZ politics in good heart". New Zealand National Party. Scoop.co.nz. 16 August 2004.
  35. "Parliamentary Youth MPs". Archived from the original on 16 July 1997.
  36. "NZ Youth Parliament Hansard" (PDF). fyi.org.nz. 19 September 1994.
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