Youth MPs claim censorship over Govt criticism in speeches
Today is the first day of Youth Parliament 2025, an event that happens every three years. It involves every MP selecting a Youth MP to represent their spot in the House.
But some Youth MPs allege they are unable to say what they think about topics currently discussed in Parliament, including the Treaty Principles Bill, changes to the pay equity system, voting rights and climate action.
'We've been told to soften our language, to drop key parts of our speeches and to avoid criticising certain ministers or policies. This isn't guidance, this is fear-based control,' Youth MP Nate Wilbourne told Re: News.
Some Youth MPs say they're being censored if they are critical of the Government. (Source: Re: News)
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Eighty of the 123 Youth MPs chosen for this year's Youth Parliament were given the opportunity to deliver a speech in the Parliamentary chamber.
The Ministry of Youth Development, which is responsible for running the event, said around half of those speakers were given feedback and suggested changes to their speeches.
But Youth MP Thomas Brocherie, who is also the co-director of Make It 16, a group campaigning for the voting age to be lowered to 16, said all the speakers received an email from MYD with the subject line 'changes required'.
He said this felt like 'blatant editing'.
The Youth Parliament event is non-partisan, which means it is not aligned with or opposing any party in Government.
Allegations of editing
A previous sitting of the Youth Parliament. (Source: NZ Business & Parliament Trust)
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Nate Wilbourne, who founded youth organisation Gen Z Aotearoa, said his speech is about the 'war on nature' in which he wanted to call out Ministers Shane Jones, Tama Potaka and Penny Simmonds for their 'assault on te taiao'.
He said when he submitted his speech to MYD, it was edited and he was told it 'lacks political neutrality'.
'In any functioning democracy, critique is not only allowed, it is essential.
'When your voices are edited to remove criticism, when ministers are shielded from being named, when we're told that our lived experiences are too political, that is not neutrality – that is protection of the status quo.'
Youth MP Sam Allen said their speech included criticism of the Government's Pay Equity Amendment Bill. They said they received suggested edits from MYD on their speech but only some were explained.
The line 'I have no idea where you find the audacity to label yourself as a progressive while campaigning for votes, and then cowardly march forward to cut women's pay for our most vulnerable workers' was cut without an explanation, Allen said.
The group of Youth MPs also claim a speech about poverty was called 'too anti-rich" and a speech about freedom of speech was also edited.
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MYD says it's following protocol
MYD general manager John Robertson said the feedback protocol for speeches has been in place since the last Youth Parliament in 2022.
'Our advice was generally focused on supporting them to convey their arguments clearly and effectively, and in keeping with the non-partisan approach of Youth Parliament.'
He added: 'We also advised some Youth MPs that changes were required to their speeches to avoid putting themselves at risk.'
"Youth MPs are not protected by Parliamentary privilege. This means young people could be held liable if the contents of their speech raise concerns around defamation, copyright, privacy, contempt of court, or broadcasting standards."
Youth Minister James Meager said: 'We do not censor the speeches of Youth MPs.'
James Meager (Source: Getty)
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'We have been clear to all Youth MPs that they make the final decision about the content of their speech.'
But the group of Youth MPs who have spoken out said MYD is in a position of power so young people feel pressured to comply with its suggestions.
Meager said he's enjoyed the debates so far, which have been challenging to Government policy, and hasn't seen anything which concerns him in terms of censorship.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins told Re: News 'the whole point of Youth Parliament is to give young people, who are often massively underheard, the chance to speak up".
'Asking them to censor their views just because they're critical of the Government is completely out of step with that spirit."
Youth Parliament won't be livestreamed this year
File image of the steps outside Parliament (Source: 1News)
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The past two Youth Parliaments have been fully livestreamed, but this year's is not.
MYD said this was due to resource constraints, and that parts will be recorded and shared with the Youth MPs after the event has ended.
Youth MP Lincoln Jones said he remembers speeches from previous Youth Parliaments which have been controversial and thinks the lack of live streaming this year is to 'ensure that speeches that don't fit the narrative of this government are not getting out to the general public'.
Thomas Brocherie remembers watching Youth Parliament live when he was younger.
'No 14-year-old is going to have that same excited feeling I did because they literally cannot see it,' he said.
Youth MPs say they're no longer feeling excited about Youth Parliament
While Meager said everyone is 'thoroughly enjoying' Youth Parliament, some Youth MPs said their excitement for the event has now fizzled out.
Brocherie said it's 'sad and disheartening' to see Youth Parliament being 'used wrongly' and that his perspective on Youth Parliament has been changed as a whole.
Allen said 'people have gone from what should be a really exciting event just feeling quite scared' that they might get into trouble for what they chose to say.
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