Youth Member of Parliament
Youth Member of Parliament
April 16, 2013 at 11:25 AM
We congratulate Year 13 IB student, Alexi Carlier who has been selected as the Youth Member of Parliament by MP for Tamaki, Simon O’Connor. Alexi, who lives in Glendowie, will represent his electorate at Parliament later this year. Nominated applicants were required to write an essay on a self-selected element of the New Zealand constitution.
Mr O’Connor said, ‘I am very pleased to have selected Alexi as Tamaki’s Youth Member of Parliament. I ran an essay competition across the electorate for people aged 16 to 18. Alexi’s discussion on the nature and quality of New Zealand’s constitutional structures was excellent. He is clearly an insightful young individual, with a good grasp of New Zealand’s government. I was also impressed by his ability to clearly articulate concepts that are often difficult to express.’
Youth Parliament is a nationwide initiative lead by the Ministry of Youth Development. MPs select a young person to represent them at a Youth Parliament held in Wellington. A total of 121 Youth MPs, from across the country, will go to Parliament in July, where they will learn about the government decision-making process and share the views of youth with the country’s decision makers. They will have the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of an MP for two days while they debate legislation, sit on select committees and ask oral questions of Cabinet Ministers.
The Youth Parliament 2013 mock Bill will focus on electoral reform. Youth MPs will debate the merits of reducing the voting age from 18 to 17 years, electronic voting, compulsory voting, and extending the Term of Parliament from three to four years. There are also ten select committees of inquiry with topics ranging from cage free farming to youth employment.
As well as representing Tamaki at Youth Parliament in July, Alexi will hold the title of Youth MP for Tamaki from 1 May to 31 December 2013. During this time, he will have the opportunity to work alongside Mr O’Connor and understand more of the work of a local member of parliament.
