Youth MP helps Smith get down with the kids
Enabling better mental health support for young people is one of the main aims of Nelson’s Youth MP.
Nelson MP Nick Smith has selected 16-year-old Esther Walters, a student at Nelson College for Girls, as his representative at the triennial Youth Parliament next year.
Walters will be one of 120 Youth MPs from across the country and she will be tenured from March 1 until August 31.
The selection process involved interested students from Nelson making a video application and these were ranked by members of the Nelson Youth Council.
For her video, Walters interviewed fellow students about what issues they saw as important in Nelson and the solutions they would like to see.
‘‘A lot of people were talking about mental health and how a lot of people aren’t getting enough support around that – they have the resources but they might not know where to go for that help.’’
Walters saw the opportunity as a pathway to giving young people a voice, promoting youth issues at a high level and helping increase young people’s participation in next year’s local government elections.
Smith looked forward to helping Walters advocate on behalf of the young people of Nelson, while introducing her to other aspects of his job, including a stint at his Saturday Market caravan.
‘‘What Esther has raised is a real issue – and my hope is through the Youth Parliament it provides some relevant information for both the education and health sector.’’
Smith, who was a local body representative at age 18 and an MP by 24, welcomed Walters’ selection, noting her track record of advocacy for youth and strong values.
The year 11 student is a member of the Health Board’s Youth Advocacy panel, the Nelson Youth Sector Leadership group and Whanake Youth.
‘‘I was instrumental 25 years ago in establishing the first Youth Parliament in 1993 as the then youngest MP.
‘‘It plays an important role in connecting young people with our democracy and ensuring MPs understand the priorities and issues for young people.’’
Smith said he had kept in touch with previous Youth MPs, some of whom had moved into local government and the public service sector.
He said several resolutions passed as result of previous Youth Parliaments had been acted on in government, including cycle helmets being made compulsory in the early 1990s.
Walters follows her sister Bethany into a Youth MP role, after the elder sibling was chosen to represent New Brighton in the last election cycle.
‘‘I saw what she did and it was pretty amazing – I never thought I’d end up a part of it all but when I looked into it, I thought it was pretty cool.’’
A highlight of the Youth MP role is to go to Wellington for a two-day Youth Parliament in July, when Parliament is in recess.
Youth MPs will have the opportunity to debate legislation, sit on select committees and ask oral questions of ministers.
Walters will also be working alongside Smith to help understand the role of an MP and to connect with his work with young people.