Youth Parliament 2025

Youth Parliament is a unique youth development opportunity for up to 143 young people from across Aotearoa New Zealand to experience the political process, learn about how government works and represent their communities as Youth members of Parliament (MPs) or participate as Youth Press Gallery members.

Organised by MYD, with support from the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives – Te Tari o te Manahautū o te Whare Māngai, Youth Parliament 2025 will provide young people aged 16-24 years with an opportunity to develop leadership skills, influence government decision-making, and have their voices heard.

The Youth Parliament 2025 programme will run from Monday 28 April to Friday 29 August 2025, with the two-day event taking place on Tuesday 01 and Wednesday 02 July in the Parliamentary precinct in Wellington. The four-month programme allows young people from around Aotearoa New Zealand to actively work and be heard on topics and issues they are passionate about. 

Young people aged 16 to 18 years (as at Friday 28 February 2025) are eligible to apply to become a Youth MP, while Youth Press Gallery members must be aged between 16 and 24 years (as at Friday 28 February 2025). All participants will receive training, pastoral support, and guidance along the way.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact MYD’s Youth Parliament 2025 project team at beheard@youthparliament.govt.nz.

How to Apply

Applications open on Monday 03 February 2025.

Each of Aotearoa New Zealand’s 123 MPs will run a process to select one young person as their Youth MP. If you would like to represent your community as a Youth MP, you will need to first work out who your local MP is – click here to find out more information about electorate and list MPs. Each MP will run their own process for selecting their Youth MP and information will be available through their channels e.g., social media, so we recommend keeping an eye on those. Applications will open on Monday 03 February 2025.

A panel will select up to 20 young people to participate as Youth Press Gallery members. Information on how to apply will be made available on this webpage and on our Facebook and Instagram channels when applications open on Monday 03 February 2025.

All applications close at 12.00 noon on Friday 28 February 2025.