Are you the next Taupō Youth MP? I want to hear from you!

That’s the message from MP Louise Upston who says she is keen to receive applications from young people in the Taupō electorate to represent their youth community at New Zealand’s next Youth Parliament 2022 that will be held on 18 – 20 July 2022.

“I’ve been so fortunate to have had high calibre Youth MPs representing youth in our electorate over the years.

“I can’t wait to again this year hear from young people who have an interest in participating in the public decision-making processes that inform our New Zealand democratic system.

“I’m looking for someone who has a strong interest in youth issues, democracy, representation and/or politics and who would be able to go out and engage with young people across our diverse electorate.

“Applicants will need to be aged 16-18 years old (inclusive) on 12 November 2021 and it will be someone that has the ability to go out and engage with the youth in the electorate when their tenure starts on 1 March 2022. They will need to live in and attend a school or an education facility in the Taupō electorate.

“They will then represent their peers’ views at Youth Parliament in Wellington in July 2022,” Ms Upston says.

“I would like to encourage a range of voices to step forward and encourage young people with diverse backgrounds and abilities to step forward.

“The Youth Parliament event itself is an exciting experience where Youth MPs will debate legislation, sit on select committees and ask oral questions of Ministers, just like the real thing.

“My selection process this year will again include visiting secondary schools and other educational institutions and meeting with students interested in being involved in the process. A letter has been sent to Principals to promote the opportunity to their students."

Applicants will need to email in an application form and short CV, with a brief pitch of about 500 words about a community or youth project that they intend to undertake during their tenure to [email protected] by no later than noon on 8 November. 

Application forms will be available at all local high schools and colleges or anyone interested (including young people not formally enrolled in an educational institution but who meet the criteria), can email mp4taupo@parliament for a form.

Shortlisted interviews will take place in mid-November, with the successful Youth MP announced mid-December.

Ms Upston said that she will also be selecting a Youth Advisory Board from the applicants.

“This means that, even if you are not successful in being selected the Youth MP, there are still plenty of opportunities to be involved in the electorate and our youth communities through the Youth Advisory Board.

“I am really excited about this year’s Youth MP selected process, it’s been a challenging year for our students and I can’t wait to hear the many great ideas from our young persons about how we can make New Zealand the best place to live in again,” Ms Upston says.

Any questions about Youth Parliament including qualifying criteria for a Youth MP can be found at www.youthparliament.govt.nz.

ENDS