From Paddocks to Parliament: Olivia Kelly Brings Rural Youth Voice to Wellington

By Yeonsoo Son, Youth Press Gallery, New Zealand Youth Parliament

Photo Caption: Olivia Kelly, Youth MP

The year 13 Kaipara College student was selected to represent local MP Hon Chris Penk as part of the 2025 Youth Parliament. This triennial initiative gives 143 rangatahi /young people across Aotearoa New Zealand a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of MPs, engage in debate, and influence government decision-making on the issues that matter to young people.

But for Kelly, the mahi began long before she was selected. Raised on a farm and proudly calling herself a “farming kid”, she has long been a passionate advocate for her community. From taking on leadership roles to organising community events, she has seized every opportunity to amplify youth voices - and now, she is bringing those perspectives to the national stage.

Kelly is helping lead this year’s Agricultural Day (Ag Day) at Kaipara College. This flagship student-led event unites students, staff, alumni, and the wider community to celebrate the school’s rich agricultural heritage.

Beyond the school gates, Kelly’s leadership is already making an impact. She represented MP Hon Chris Penk at the local ANZAC Day service and she stood alongside Hon Chris Bishop and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown at a local transport announcement. These engagements have been a testament to her growing role as a youth leader and trusted voice for her community.

“Community involvement is important to me,” she says. “Youth Parliament is a cool opportunity to bring local concerns, especially rural youth voices, to a national platform”.

Kelly has launched a youth voice survey across her electorate to ensure she reflects her peers’ views. Early responses have helped her identify two key issues young people want addressed: the growing prevalence of vaping in schools and the lack of accessible part-time employment for rural students.

“Vaping is becoming more common, especially among younger students,” Kelly says. Her concerns go beyond immediate health risks, highlighting broader impacts on learning and wellbeing. “Students are missing class and falling behind. Punishment isn’t working. We need education that resonates with young people and helps them understand the long-term impacts.” She hopes to use her platform in Wellington to push for more targeted education initiatives, backed by stronger government support and resources.

Her survey also revealed an apparent concern around youth employment, particularly how rural isolation limits opportunities. “A lot of us have to travel long distances just to get to part-time jobs”, she explains. She notes this creates a significant barrier for rangatahi /young people hoping to gain early work experience. Rather than treating it as a passing labour market issue, Kelly believes rural youth need better access to meaningful employment opportunities that support long-term career development.

As part of a new feature of Youth Parliament 2025, Kelly will also participate in a Parliamentary Working Group (PWG): a forum where Youth MPs contribute to real-time policy discussions. She has chosen to participate in the group focused on the Workforce and Gene Technologies in Aotearoa New Zealand, which will explore how the country can develop the skills and expertise needed to support upcoming reforms to gene technology laws. These reforms aim to end the nearly 30-year ban on genetic modification and engineering outside the lab.

For Kelly, the topic is closely tied to the future of rural industries and science education. In light of this, her survey includes questions about gene technology, aiming to assess young people’s level of awareness and whether it may influence their future career aspirations.

“So far, the majority of the respondents don't know much about GeneTech, so are unsure if this is an industry they would be interested in pursuing a career in”, Kelly says. She is concerned that while these technologies could transform the future of agriculture and science in Aotearoa, many rangatahi /young people risk being left out of the conversation.

Like many schools across Aotearoa, Kaipara College faces a pressing need to help young people better understand how to have their voices heard. “We don’t hear much about politics at school,” Kelly adds. But she’s walking into Parliament with mud on her boots and her community close to her heart. Determined to speak up for rural youth, she is ready to be the voice for those who are not always heard.