2022 will see the House of Representatives host the 10th New Zealand Youth Parliament and it’s going to be amazing. I am looking for an incredible young leader who can inspire the youth of New Zealand as my representative at this exciting event. The role of Youth Parliament over the years has been vital in creating some of New Zealand’s greatest talent including some of my own Parliamentary Colleagues.

No matter your background, where you live in New Zealand or your culture I am looking for a champion who celebrates our diverse communities and has an amazing passion for the democratic values of our nation. The Youth Parliament is an insightful experience to show your skills as a debater, to raise issues that matter to you, improve your research and scrutiny expertise. Of course, Youth Parliament gives you a small taste of the workload of the Parliamentarians of New Zealand and the role comes with exciting opportunities to engage in a special way with other leaders such as local mayors and councillors to industry representatives and community trailblazers.

I am absolutely passionate about the way that Youth Parliament can invigorate young New Zealanders to get involved in our democracy. Youth Parliament is so important to me I co-led the charge, with my colleague Chris Bishop in the last Parliament, to ensure Parliament TV held live broadcasts of the debates so that kids across our country and their families could celebrate their representatives and hear the important views each Youth MP brings to the Chamber. To see what Youth Parliament is like check out the Speech my last Youth MP made in 2019.

The basic rules and benchmarks for Youth Parliament such as age criteria (between 16-18 only) and other expectations can be found here. The two-day Youth Parliament event will be held on Tuesday 19 July and Wednesday 20 July 2022 at Parliament, during a planned Parliamentary recess. The tenure for all Youth MPs will run from 1 March to 31 August 2022 to avoid clashes with end of year exams and these dates will be finalised for the successful applications later this year when the House sitting calendar is confirmed.

For my Youth MP I am particularly looking for someone who can be based in the Auckland region next year, where my Parliament Community Office is located, who can prove they would be a great representative for the portfolio issues I have Opposition responsibility for in the House. These roles are currently as Spokesperson for Ethnic Communities, the Digital Economy and Communications & Broadcasting and Media and I am also the Co-Chairperson for both the North and Central Asia and South/South East Asia Parliamentary Friendship Groups. These roles see me attend hundreds of events, functions and festivals each year around Auckland and other parts of New Zealand. During the Youth MP tenure I encourage my Youth MP to join me at events as an important way of better understand the community role of a Member of Parliament. If this sounds like you, a close relative or friend let me know and please reach out if you have any questions about Youth Parliament; it’s a really exciting opportunity for me to share my role with the next generation of young leaders.

For those applying please send me your CV, a cover letter, a couple of references who can tell me more about you from the community and an essay or video recording about your vision for the future of New Zealand. You can send this to me at MPLee@parliament.govt.nz or via Freepost, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Applications are now open and close 11.59pm Friday 12 November. This is so I can engage with applicants and make a final decision before Parliament rises for the summer.

Our democracy is for every ethnicity, every faith based institution, every innovator, every business and every community in New Zealand. It is here to hear your views and to share your vision for the future. I hope you can find the time to think about whether you or someone you know can be the voice of New Zealand youth in our democratic chambers.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. – Melissa Lee MP, National Member of Parliament, National Spokesperson for -Broadcasting & Media, Digital Economy and Communications, Ethnic Communities