11. HEKIA PARATA (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Youth Affairs
Tēnā anō koe e te Mana Whakawā, huri noa i tō tātou Whare e whakanui nei i te wiki o te reo Māori, tēnā koutou. Mō ngā kaupapa Rangatahi, he aha ngā pūrongo kua whiwhi i a ia mō te angitu o te Taiohi Pāremata rua mano tekau?
[Thank you kindly, Mr Speaker, and greetings once again to you and to us throughout our House as we celebrate Māori Language Week; greetings to you collectively. What reports has she received on the success of Youth Parliament 2010?]
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister of Youth Affairs) Link to this
Ngā mihi ki te mema. I have received a number of reports on the success of Youth Parliament 2010 in bringing together 122 Youth MPs to debate issues facing New Zealand. I would like to table in the House the report on Youth Parliament 2010. It includes the Hansard of question time, the general debate, and the debate on the age of majority bill, and the select committee reports. This report will also be released on the Youth Parliament website.
He aha tāna ka taea te mea mai mō te pire i whakaaroarotia e te Taiohi Pāremata?
[What can she tell us about the bill that Youth Parliament considered?]
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The Youth MPs looked at a mock bill that, if enacted, would have taken the legal age of majority from 20 to 18. In the 32 speeches we heard a range of arguments that were well-researched and well-thought-out. Some argued that the age of majority should remain at 20 years, citing tradition and maturity, or that it ought to be considered case by case; others argued that the bill was required to abolish age discrimination. The bill was passed by the Youth Parliament with 64 Ayes, 49 Noes, two abstentions, and seven absent.