Taylor Sincock 12/07/2013 Youth Parliament

Hamilton MPs have seemingly taken guidance from Austin Powers films and each found a “Mini-Me.”

Hamilton West’s National MP Tim Macindoe has appointed 17-year-old St Paul’s Collegiate student Mark Davis as his youth MP; while Labour list MP Sue Moroney has appointed Melville High’s 17-year-old head girl Cian Gardner.

Although not opponents as Macindoe and Moroney were in the 2011 election, the two youth MPs will be part of Youth Parliament this week (July 16 and 17).

Youth Parliament is held every three years as an opportunity for New Zealand’s youth to learn how parliament works.

Part of the experience includes select committees with real public submissions.

Davis will take on the education select committee, which addresses if school subjects like science should be compulsory.

As the son of two doctors, he believes taking science as a subject should still be the student’s choice.

“I understand that there are those who do not wish to do science at higher levels, just as there are those who do not want to do art, history or construction as part of their secondary school certification.”

A mock Electoral Reform Bill will also be debated. It proposes lowering the voting age to 17-years-old, making voting compulsory, introducing electronic voting systems, and extending the Term of Parliament to four years.

Davis has mixed opinions on the bill and says he wants the voting age to stay at 18-years-old.

“Eighteen is also the age of emancipation, as well as being the legal age for the granting of several other rights and I like the idea of all your rights becoming official at the same time.”

Gardner says the bill is a good opportunity for youth to learn what voting actually means.

“It is important for people, especially youth, to take charge on how they want the country to be run.”

Hamilton East’s National MP David Bennett selected Hamilton Boys’ High 17-year-old Oliver Wilding as his youth MP.

Youth MPs Cian Gardner and Mark Davis. Photography: Taylor Sincock.

ENDS

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