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Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
'Silenced Before Anyone Can Hear': Youth MP Breaks Script To Challenge Alleged Censorship
Chris Hipkins' Youth MP made waves in Parliament on Wednesday, changing his approved General Debate speech last-minute to call out what he and others have described as censorship by the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD). Ryan Grant-Derepa, 17, represents the Leader of the Opposition in this year's Youth Parliament. Just hours before taking the floor in the Debating Chamber, he altered his speech to criticise MYD's handling of Youth MPs' contributions – claiming that while rangatahi are invited to share their voices, they're also being filtered in the process. 'But here's the irony: there's no livestream. No cameras. No public record. We're told to speak, but silenced before anyone can hear,' Grant-Derepa said in his speech. 'And if the government won't take action, our rangatahi will. We're not here half-hearted. We're not here half-asked. And we're not backing down. We are the future. And they are not ready.' His address was met with murmurs of support from peers across the House, and audible approval from ministers, whānau and observers in the public gallery. Youth MPs push back The three-day Youth Parliament kicked off with orientation on Monday, followed by two days of debate, questions and parliamentary working groups. But behind the scenes, controversy had already begun to build. An open letter published earlier in the week, signed by numerous Youth MPs – particularly those on the Opposition side – alleged that MYD staff were requesting significant changes to speeches, especially where they involved criticism of current government ministers or policies. A second open letter, released Thursday, included signatures from prominent voices outside the programme, including 2023 Young New Zealander of the Year Shaneel Lal, and mental health advocates Jazz Thornton and Genevieve Mora. The letters describe an environment where Youth MPs felt unable to speak freely – despite the purpose of the programme being to elevate youth voice in national politics. Speaking after his speech, Grant-Derepa said he changed course not for shock value, but because 'it was the right thing to do.' 'If MYD want us to share our voice, why should they also be stopping us at the same time? It doesn't make sense.' 'We're not given a chance to show people hope… show that we're working together, that we're not as polarised as people like to think. Yet somehow, we're still the ones causing the ruckus. Isn't that exactly what this government says it wants? Obviously not, right? They're scared of young people.' His shift in tone echoed earlier comments made by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who, when asked on Monday about the speech review process, said: 'Any idea that they're being asked to submit their views in advance so that they can be censored, so that they can have critical comments about the government taken out of them, is just totally out of step with the spirit of Youth Parliament, which is hearing from young people.' The Ministry responds In a statement attributed to Minister for Youth James Meager, the Ministry of Youth Development strongly denied any form of censorship. 'MYD did not stop or censor any Youth MP's speech,' said Meager. 'The Ministry's suggested changes were just recommendations for the young people to consider. However, they acknowledge that recent feedback received from some of the young people is that this was not as clear as it could've been in every instance.' 'If Youth MPs felt like that amounted to censorship, that is unfortunate, because at all times the Ministry had their best interests at heart and repeatedly reminded Youth MPs that ultimately what they say and do is up to them… Many, if not most Youth MPs were grateful for the support and guidance provided by the Ministry, and made excellent, robust and challenging contributions to the debate.' He added that safeguarding participants was the Ministry's primary concern: 'MYD's number one priority throughout this programme was keeping all participants safe and protected as much as possible… and advising them on how to best express their views without falling foul of the law, the standing orders, or the horrible trolling which can occur online.' Addressing the decision not to livestream this year's proceedings, Meager said: 'Youth Parliament participants were told early on that the event would not be livestreamed, although all debates and speeches have been filmed – and will be provided in full for all participants to share as they please.' The statement did not mention the reason behind this decision, though an Instagram comment made by Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle says it was due to funding cuts. The Minister also addressed concerns over legal protections, noting that Youth MPs do not have parliamentary privilege: 'What Youth MPs say in the House will not be protected in this way. MYD reviews speeches to look for any aspects which could fall under defamation, copyright, privacy or contempt of court – which the Youth MPs may be unaware of.' 'This review is not about changing the content of speeches – it's about MYD being responsible organisers of an event that is predominantly made up of minors who may be unaware of such rules and laws.' Meager concluded by reaffirming the value of Youth MPs' contributions: 'The Youth Parliament speeches were full of diverse and differing points of view, which is the entire point of the event and democracy as a whole.' A growing call for transparency As debates wrap up and Youth MPs return home, questions remain about how best to balance safeguarding with free expression. For Grant-Derepa, this week's experience has been a turning point, one he says made him even more determined to challenge the status quo. 'We're told, 'Wait your turn.' But that's the problem. We have things to say now.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Youth Organisations And Youth MPs Call For Change After Censorship At Youth Parliament 2025
Today, Youth MPs, youth organisations, and youth councils from across Aotearoa have released an open letter expressing deep concern about recent decisions made at Youth Parliament 2025 that they say restricted and censored rangatahi voices. The open letter highlights the cancellation of live-streaming, the removal of the mock bill and Lived Experience Groups, and the editing of Youth MP speeches as decisions that, while varied in form, all resulted in the same outcome: limiting the power and authenticity of youth voice in a space meant to uplift it. 'This kōrero was driven by Youth MPs,' says Lincoln, Make It 16 member and Youth MP, 'We've simply supported them to share what many were feeling. This is part of a wider systemic pattern of youth voices being filtered or dismissed in political spaces.' ' Young people are not a token presence. We deserve to be present where power is held not just for appearances, but because our lived experiences and insights matter,' says Youth MP Ruby Love-Smith, 'This is a moment to reflect and do better.' 'Even though the feedback on speeches was framed as optional, the way it was delivered didn't acknowledge the power imbalance,' says Sam, Make It 16 member and Youth MP. 'For many of us, especially for those new to this space, it felt like there was no real choice but to comply. That's not how you build confidence in young people, that's how you make them doubt themselves.' ' We want to work alongside MYD, Parliament, and others to ensure Youth Parliament truly lives up to its purpose, ' says Thomas Brocherie, Co-Director of Make It 16. 'This year's Youth MPs showed just how capable and committed young people are, delivering powerful speeches on issues like mental health, education, Te Tiriti, and climate change. But the decisions made around Youth Parliament left many rangatahi second-guessing themselves in a space that should have encouraged confidence rather than caution.' Make It 16 emphasises that this open letter is not an attack on any political party, public servant, or the Ministry of Youth Development, but a call for a commitment to genuine youth representation that reflects the real voices and aspirations of rangatahi across Aotearoa. In an email sharing the open letter to MYD, Make It 16 has said, 'We stand in solidarity with the Youth MPs who had the courage to speak up as their voices deserve to be heard. We hope this can be a turning point, and we hope this open letter is taken as an invitation to work together.' The open letter outlines four key calls to action for future Youth Parliaments: Restore live streaming and ensure public access to speeches. Reinstate Lived Experience Groups and the Mock Bill process to reflect diverse youth experiences. End pre-speech censorship, especially of real-world issues. Embed rangatahi-led design and accountability into all stages of Youth Parliament. 'This is a moment to reflect and improve,' says Thomas Brocherie. 'Because ultimately, this kōrero is bigger than just Youth Parliament. It's about how our democracy treats young people throughout these systems. We're inviting MYD and the government to work with us to create spaces like Youth Parliament that genuinely serve, support, and empower rangatahi to lead.'
1News
3 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
Youth MPs claim censorship over Govt criticism in speeches
Some Youth MPs say their speeches are being censored if they are critical of the Government, but the Ministry for Youth Development says edits are part of normal protocol. Today is the first day of Youth Parliament 2025, an event that happens every three years. It involves every MP selecting a Youth MP to represent their spot in the House. But some Youth MPs allege they are unable to say what they think about topics currently discussed in Parliament, including the Treaty Principles Bill, changes to the pay equity system, voting rights and climate action. 'We've been told to soften our language, to drop key parts of our speeches and to avoid criticising certain ministers or policies. This isn't guidance, this is fear-based control,' Youth MP Nate Wilbourne told Re: News. Some Youth MPs say they're being censored if they are critical of the Government. (Source: Re: News) ADVERTISEMENT Eighty of the 123 Youth MPs chosen for this year's Youth Parliament were given the opportunity to deliver a speech in the Parliamentary chamber. The Ministry of Youth Development, which is responsible for running the event, said around half of those speakers were given feedback and suggested changes to their speeches. But Youth MP Thomas Brocherie, who is also the co-director of Make It 16, a group campaigning for the voting age to be lowered to 16, said all the speakers received an email from MYD with the subject line 'changes required'. He said this felt like 'blatant editing'. The Youth Parliament event is non-partisan, which means it is not aligned with or opposing any party in Government. Allegations of editing A previous sitting of the Youth Parliament. (Source: NZ Business & Parliament Trust) ADVERTISEMENT Nate Wilbourne, who founded youth organisation Gen Z Aotearoa, said his speech is about the 'war on nature' in which he wanted to call out Ministers Shane Jones, Tama Potaka and Penny Simmonds for their 'assault on te taiao'. He said when he submitted his speech to MYD, it was edited and he was told it 'lacks political neutrality'. 'In any functioning democracy, critique is not only allowed, it is essential. 'When your voices are edited to remove criticism, when ministers are shielded from being named, when we're told that our lived experiences are too political, that is not neutrality – that is protection of the status quo.' Youth MP Sam Allen said their speech included criticism of the Government's Pay Equity Amendment Bill. They said they received suggested edits from MYD on their speech but only some were explained. The line 'I have no idea where you find the audacity to label yourself as a progressive while campaigning for votes, and then cowardly march forward to cut women's pay for our most vulnerable workers' was cut without an explanation, Allen said. The group of Youth MPs also claim a speech about poverty was called 'too anti-rich" and a speech about freedom of speech was also edited. ADVERTISEMENT MYD says it's following protocol MYD general manager John Robertson said the feedback protocol for speeches has been in place since the last Youth Parliament in 2022. 'Our advice was generally focused on supporting them to convey their arguments clearly and effectively, and in keeping with the non-partisan approach of Youth Parliament.' He added: 'We also advised some Youth MPs that changes were required to their speeches to avoid putting themselves at risk.' "Youth MPs are not protected by Parliamentary privilege. This means young people could be held liable if the contents of their speech raise concerns around defamation, copyright, privacy, contempt of court, or broadcasting standards." Youth Minister James Meager said: 'We do not censor the speeches of Youth MPs.' James Meager (Source: Getty) ADVERTISEMENT 'We have been clear to all Youth MPs that they make the final decision about the content of their speech.' But the group of Youth MPs who have spoken out said MYD is in a position of power so young people feel pressured to comply with its suggestions. Meager said he's enjoyed the debates so far, which have been challenging to Government policy, and hasn't seen anything which concerns him in terms of censorship. Labour leader Chris Hipkins told Re: News 'the whole point of Youth Parliament is to give young people, who are often massively underheard, the chance to speak up". 'Asking them to censor their views just because they're critical of the Government is completely out of step with that spirit." Youth Parliament won't be livestreamed this year File image of the steps outside Parliament (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT The past two Youth Parliaments have been fully livestreamed, but this year's is not. MYD said this was due to resource constraints, and that parts will be recorded and shared with the Youth MPs after the event has ended. Youth MP Lincoln Jones said he remembers speeches from previous Youth Parliaments which have been controversial and thinks the lack of live streaming this year is to 'ensure that speeches that don't fit the narrative of this government are not getting out to the general public'. Thomas Brocherie remembers watching Youth Parliament live when he was younger. 'No 14-year-old is going to have that same excited feeling I did because they literally cannot see it,' he said. Youth MPs say they're no longer feeling excited about Youth Parliament While Meager said everyone is 'thoroughly enjoying' Youth Parliament, some Youth MPs said their excitement for the event has now fizzled out. Brocherie said it's 'sad and disheartening' to see Youth Parliament being 'used wrongly' and that his perspective on Youth Parliament has been changed as a whole. Allen said 'people have gone from what should be a really exciting event just feeling quite scared' that they might get into trouble for what they chose to say.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Youth Parliament Must Honour Rangatahi Voices
A group of youth organisations is calling out the censorship of young people at Youth Parliament 2025, where multiple decisions made by the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) have undermined the kaupapa of authentic youth voice. Several youth MPs will meet Press on the steps of Parliament House at 1:15pm on Tuesday, 1 July to share their experiences and feelings on the censorship of rangatahi voices during this year's Youth Parliament. Multiple decisions made around this year's Youth Parliament have led to an environment that fundamentally undermines what is meant to be a space for young people to speak freely and confidently on the issues that shape their lives. This year: Live-streaming of Youth MP speeches has been cancelled. Lived Experience Groups, which previously allowed Youth MPs from minority communities to offer policy advice, have been removed. Youth MPs have been told they cannot clap, cannot walk out, and that all speeches must be reviewed before delivery. Youth MPs have also been told not to speak on key political issues like pay equity, voting rights, climate action and financial literacy, with parts of their speeches removed because these topics are supposedly 'too political.' 'Youth Parliament is meant to give young people a voice. But how can we speak up if we're told what we're allowed to say?' says Thomas Brocherie, Co-Director of Make It 16 and Youth MP for Lan Pham. 'Young people are constantly told to care, to participate, to raise our voices. But when we do, we're told to edit them. If Youth Parliament only allows voices that are comfortable for adults to hear, it's not youth voice at all. It's a performance,' says Ruby Love-Smith, Youth MP for Dr Tracey McLellan. "This isn't an attack on parties or politicians. It's a call for something deeper: real youth representation that isn't filtered or stage-managed. If rangatahi can't talk about our right to vote or the issues that affect us most in a space designed to elevate youth voice then what message does that send?' says Lincoln Jones, Make It 16 member and Youth MP for Willie Jackson (Labour Party). The feedback Youth MPs received after submitting speeches was often couched in positive language, encouraging them to 'consider' edits. But this framing misses the power dynamic at play wherein young people felt pressured to comply, afraid speaking honestly would create 'problems' or risk being excluded. 'We've been told to soften our language, drop key parts of our speeches, and avoid criticising certain ministers, as speaking out could 'cause problems.' That isn't guidance, it's control.' says Nate Wilbourne, Gen-Z Aotearoa founder and spokesperson, Youth MP for Damien O'Connor. We believe MYD has failed to uphold the kaupapa of Youth Parliament, a space that should respect rangatahi as capable of holding and voicing their own views on real issues that affect our lives, rights, and futures. Instead of leading by example, MYD is setting a dangerous precedent for youth engagement where youth voice is managed, not valued. These actions reflect a wider pattern of tokenism and disclusion that continues to disempower young people across Aotearoa. We stand in solidarity with the Youth MPs who've been sidelined and silenced. Their courage deserves to be heard. We call on Parliament and MYD to reflect on this moment and do better. We demand future Youth Parliaments: Restore livestreams and full public transparency. Reinstate Lived Experience Groups to reflect diverse voices. End speech interference and stop framing political awareness as political bias. Centre youth-led processes and accountability in the event's design and delivery. This is not just about Youth Parliament. It's about the wider issue of systemic exclusion. Rangatahi deserve to be respected as capable of holding and voicing their own views on real issues affecting our lives, rights, and futures. Young people are not here to perform — we are here to participate. This statement is co-released by: Make It 16 Gen Z Aotearoa SchoolStrike4Climate
