Selwyn College student speaks up for Auckland Youth at Parliament
Selwyn College student Mikaela Renner has long been involved in her Auckland community, from volunteering to organising charity events. Her dedication to making a difference is clear, and now she’s bringing that energy to Youth Parliament 2025.
By Sebastien Booth, Youth Press Gallery, Youth Parliament 2025
“I was inspired to become a Youth MP mostly by my family,” says Mikaela. “My aunt works in the public sector and I've always admired the work she does.”
Selected by Hon Brooke van Velden, Mikaela says the opportunity has already helped her better understand the inner workings of government. “This position has helped me understand more about what it means to be in the public sector,” she says.
Mikaela’s policy focus in the lead-up to Youth Parliament is on retirement income, a complex topic she admits hasn’t come with easy answers.
“It has definitely been a challenge thinking of ways to engage with the youth of my community surrounding retirement income policy, I am actively engaging with my MP on ways to do this.” she says.
Despite the complexity, Mikaela has already been busy in her local area, attending events and talking with constituents. “At the end of May I attended the Youth of Ōrākei brunch, where I got to interact with my peers, and see the role of the MP in these events,” she says.
Earlier this year, Mikaela also ran a successful charity event and continues to volunteer in her community. Most recently, she attended an ANZAC Day service at St Heliers Beach and will soon present youth safety concerns at a local community meeting. “I have surveyed some of my peers to understand what their main safety concerns are, and I hope to present this on Friday to the community,” she says.
“My passion towards the environment and economy are strong drivers in my interest in politics, as these are growing concerns within our communities,” she adds.