Focus on what youth need and say, not censorship debate

Otago Daily Times

08-07-2025

Claims of censorship overshadowed what Youth MPs actually said, Josh Henderson writes.
Youth Parliament 2025 involved 143 people from various backgrounds and communities across New Zealand, and it truly shone through with the quality of speeches, questions and input all around the parliamentary premises.
Let me be clear, I don't have an opinion about this supposed censorship of our speeches. A lot of us don't.
We came here to represent our communities, our livelihoods and future career pathways, and that's what we did.
The reality of it is, the claimed "censorship" was realistically just an error on the Ministry of Youth Development's part, which they have now admitted.
The error made by the ministry was brought to their attention by the media and they have admitted fault and I am sure they will work to fix that for next time.
That should have been the end of it. There was no need to denigrate and bring down the Youth Parliament like a group of Youth MPs did at a press conference. It got so bad, the media were questioning whether they should wrap it up or not.
What happened that day on the Parliament steps was not the Youth Parliament most of us were in and saw. We weren't here to engage in a debate on Parliament's steps as to whether or not there was censorship at this event.
We were here to listen and speak. We heard some absolutely phenomenal speeches across the chamber, varying from mental health, education, farming, rural communities, Māori and Pasifika rights, and many many more.
Young people were given a voice, and they were not heard.
An event which was supposed to give young people a say, a seat at the table, a voice for their communities, was turned on its head. The media was focused on an idea of censorship that was simply a mistake.
There was no coverage of the important issues affecting young rangatahi today.
To clarify the censorship debacle, as I was one of the Youth MPs who did have their original speech edited, I was absolutely confused at first.
The changes weren't making much sense to me, and being forced to say "I believe" or "In my opinion" in every sentence was not the power my speech was going to hold.
I took it into my own hands, and emailed the ministry seeking clarification. I received the same copy-paste email that was made mention of in the first press conference in return, that told me the changes were not mandatory and instead up to me.
I chose to adopt some of the changes they made, and left the rest as it was.
The media attention on this issue of censorship really tainted the experience for a number of Youth MPs who wanted to have their voices heard, and put together incredibly powerful speeches in the debating chamber.
I put these press conferences to the back of my head, and actually listened to what Youth MPs had to say about what matters most to them.
I heard an incredibly impassioned speech on mental health from Taiko Edwards-Haruru, from Gustav Schwind on bullying, Terangitūkiwaho Edwards on Māori environmental rights and Jorja Simmonds on homelessness.
Add to that the speeches from Daniel Matthews and Fletcher Brown on education and trades, from Neeve Smith and Sylvie MacFarlane on farming and rural healthcare, and Isabella White on sexual assault, plus so many other great speeches that I'd run out of words to name, you have one of the most talented and passionate Youth Parliaments in history.
Do you notice a trend here though? Have you heard about any of those speeches? Have you seen any of them in the mainstream media?
No? I wonder why.
Youth Parliament 2025 was overshadowed by this overarching idea of censorship, leaving out the speeches that put questions into our heads, leaving out the ideas that made us think, and leaving out the people who put the time and effort into being in Wellington and speaking out about what mattered most to them.
Young people have historically never had a seat at the table, they've rarely been represented in Parliament and cannot vote until they're 18.
Youth Parliament is realistically their only opportunity to have their say and express what they need to thrive and strive to succeed.
If that chance is being overshadowed, they don't get heard.
I would hope the media look at this and start to push for coverage of Youth MPs' speeches and move past the censorship issue of an event that has now ended.
These Youth MPs are returning to their communities to continue their work, so it's only fair to give them the right coverage on the issues that matter to all of us young people.
• Josh Henderson is the Youth MP for Gerry Brownlee.