Two talented Year 13 Pakuranga College students, Abby Plom and Cerys Gibby, will step into the world of politics this term, after being selected to join Youth Parliament and the Youth Press Gallery.
Organised by the Ministry of Youth Development, this opportunity happens every three years and allows passionate students to experience politics in a real-world setting.
When Abby saw advertisements seeking Youth MPs, she knew she had to go for it. Applicants can apply to be Youth MPs in the electorates of their home or school, meaning Abby had a choice between Minister of Health Simeon Brown and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
“I knew I needed to go big or go home,” Abby says. “So I reached out to Christopher Luxon’s office to put my name forward.”
“He was very personable and down-to-earth,” Abby says. “When we met for an interview, he answered the door to his office himself and we spoke about the Whangamatā Beach Hop, as well as some more political topics.”
Luxon asked Abby what she thinks the big issues for youth in the area were, which Abby believes are mental health, education, and crime – the last of which Luxon was most interested in. Education was also at the forefront of Abby’s interview, with the pair talking about raising standards for New Zealand students.
Abby clearly impressed, with Luxon naming her the Youth MP for Botany. She is unsure if she can lay claim to the Prime Ministership, though.
“I’m not sure whether that makes me Youth PM, but I think I just have to own it. I’m excited to get started!”
When Cerys discovered Youth Parliament, she decided to apply for the Youth Press Gallery as she is more interested in how media interacts with politics, rather than politics itself.
Up to 20 students from high schools and universities are selected for the Youth Parliament Press Gallery, with the application process including the submission of a portfolio of past work and an opinion piece.
Whilst Cerys wanted the role, she was the 83rd person to apply, and “thought [she] had no chance.”
“The competition is tough as they take people up to 24 years of age, with much more experience than I have. It is amazing to be named in this group. I know I’ll learn and grow hugely from this opportunity.”
As a member of the press gallery, Cerys will be assigned six or seven Youth MPs whom she will follow closely during the term, as they set their agendas and consult with their constituents.
Her stories and profiles will appear in the weekly Youth Parliament newsletters, and she has also been challenged to submit her work to established media outlets that cover our Government day-to-day, such as Radio New Zealand and the New Zealand Herald.
Abby and Cerys, along with the other Youth MP and Press Gallery members, will then convene for a three-day sitting in Parliament during the July school holidays.
For Youth MPs this is where they will be able to shine a light on the concerns of their electorate, after spending two months meeting with community groups and constituents to thoroughly understand the issues.
As well as collaborating with other Youth MPs, representatives will have the opportunity to meet current members of Parliament and receive valuable mentorship.
Looking to the future, Cerys plans to study ecology and journalism in a conjoint degree. “Science communication is my interest,” she says. “I’d love to be able to work in both fields.”
Abby admits that she’d like to get into politics and maybe even be Prime Minister one day.
“Being Prime Minister started out as a bit of a joke, but after this it’s not looking quite so silly. I plan on studying politics and law at university, so that’s a good start.”
“Christopher Luxon did give me some good advice about coming into politics with broad experience, so I might look at other roles I could enjoy working in first. I’d like to be a voice for people who need one.”
