Harriet inspired by Parliament

Harriet McLauchlan has made the most of her opportunity to represent the Kaikōura electorate at this term’s Youth Parliament in Wellington.

The Marlborough Girls’ College deputy head girl said the chance to meet with 139 fellow passionate young people over the three days, from June 30 to July 2, as well as the lead-up experiences alongside MP Stuart Smith, has opened eyes, created opportunities and inspired friendships for her.

“My experience humanized MPs and made me recognise the work they put into this job, and Stuart was really great ... he was really encouraging and reminded me to make it an experience”, she says.

“I’ve enjoyed joining him in community engagement, especially when we joined Nicola Grigg to tour around local organisations like the Bragato Research Centre and Puro and seen the range of innovation going on in our region.

“During Youth Parliament we spoke in the debating chamber, worked in select committee groups, and had question time with ministers, with fortnightly zoom calls with the Ministry of Youth Development ahead of time to work with our MPs and make the best experience for us.

“It was daunting coming from the fourth-largest electorate covering down to Amberley, but by the end of it we’d found a close group of girls.

“I found similarities talking with the Southland, Rangitata and central North Island electorates, enjoyed comparing with the 52 Auckland representatives, met the neighbours from Nelson and Tasman/West Coast, and luckily enough the Prime Minister’s Youth MP was in my baby group.”

While the Youth Parliament saw some controversy around censorship, Harriet’s speech on the importance of youth voice in economic decision-making was not involved but presented her with a real experience.

“It’s amazing they spoke their truths and used their voice to speak passionately, but when the magnifying glass goes on to the censorship, many miss the importance of the content of the speeches themselves.

“We are often left out due to the misconception that ‘young people do not care about politics’ however this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“If young people aren’t educated and purposely engaged, they become disillusioned and disengaged – we are not the problem, we are the potential.

“Youth Parliament is a great tool to break down these barriers and show young people that although our Parliament is a powerful space, it is not one to be feared.”

And while Harriet’s role ends in August, with ongoing professional development calls and community engagement events she says she’s already putting learning from her experiences into practice. “The greatest takeaway from the experience was the people I got to meet. You are with peers who all applied and havr been successful, so they’re all extremely passionate, like-minded people, so hearing everyone’s kaupapa was awesome.

Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith said the electorate had been well represented by Harriet. “It has been wonderful to see Harriet’s passion for community and young people transform into her being a highly effective Youth MP in the 54th Parliament.

“Her advocacy for young people as future leaders, employers, creatives and changemakers, that are ready to shape our country, was also noteworthy and my Parliamentary colleagues and I are in no doubt Harriet has a bright future in whatever career she chooses to pursue.”