Anna off to Parliament as youth MP

Labour MP based in Wairarapa, Kieran McAnulty, selected Anna Douglas,16, of Waipukurau as his Youth MP for the 2019 Youth Parliament.

McAnulty says he was overwhelmed by interest in the role, from across the Wairarapa electorate.

“The Wairarapa electorate goes from Nga¯wı¯ in the South to Waipawa in the north, and it was great to receive applications from right across this area.

“Choosing a successful applicant was extremely difficult, such was the calibre of applications.

“However, Anna stood out because of her passion for Central Hawke’s Bay and her keenness to help raise awareness for the issues affecting us here.

“Anna has a sister at Wairarapa College and made a strong case for representing each part of the electorate — Wairarapa, Tararua and Central Hawke’s Bay, which impressed me.

“I look forward to having Anna work along side me as I am out and about across the electorate.”

Anna, a year 12 student at Central Hawke’s Bay College and student representative on the board of trustees, said she was delighted to have the opportunity.

“I feel both extremely honoured and enthusiastic to be selected as Kieran McAnulty’s youth MP. This is an invaluable opportunity that I plan to take full advantage of, in the hopes of encouraging the success of youth in Central Hawke’s Bay.

“In this role I would like to be a mouthpiece for those who feel that they do not have a voice, and to present these ideas on a wider stage.”