29009 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Youth

29009 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Youth: How is the Minister ensuring that youth voice initiatives reflect the diversity of Aotearoa, including Māori, Pacific, rainbow, disabled, and rural young people?

Hon James Meager: This is something my officials take into consideration within all of their work. For example, the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) requires applicants for funding to take into account the voices of young people who are receiving their services, as referenced in response to written parliamentary question 29006 (2025). MYD has a Youth Advisory Group which captures a range of perspectives. You can find more information about the group here: https://www.myd.govt.nz/young-people/youth-voice.html#202425MYDYouthAdvisoryGroup1, and a short profile for each member has been uploaded on MYD’s Instagram page (@ministryyouthdevelopment). Another youth voice initiative the member will be aware of is Youth Parliament, where MPs were able to select a Youth MP to represent their community. I am pleased to report the ethnicity of Youth Parliament 2025 participants is near comparable to the ethnic diversity of the general youth population (referring to the 2023 Census, 16-19 years).