59023 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Youth

Written Question

Published date: 29 Jan 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	59023 (2025)
Question asked:	16 Dec 2025
Member asking:	Arena Williams
Portfolio:	Minister for Youth
Minister replying:	Hon James Meager
Answer received:	22 Jan 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_59023_2025
Document guid:	4aa144e5-7297-4dfc-b9f7-027d98cb5108

59023 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Youth: Does the Minister believe it is appropriate for the Ministry of Youth Development to have made "suggested changes" to Youth MPs speeches in 2025 changing the wording of speeches that mention "Government” to “New Zealand"?

Hon James Meager: Yes. Youth Parliament is a non-partisan youth development programme and needs to be party-politically neutral. This was a principle agreed to and adopted by MPs who sat on Multi Party Reference Group for Youth Parliament. The Ministry made recommendations to uphold this principle agreed to by all parties.