Youth MP Nikau Adams Profile

By Emelie Wissel, Youth Press Gallery, Youth Parliament 2025

Photo Caption: Nikau Adams, Youth MP

For me, this means always chasing what matters most. And if things get tough, making sure it’s because you're aiming high, not settling for anything less.’

This Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland born Youth MP likes to keep his weekends fill of sport and hanging with friends. One of his strengths is when he sets his mind to something he does not back down from getting it done. Once in Parliament in July he hopes to do just that. ‘I'm excited about the full experience of being in Parliament, not just observing, but actually being able to participate by delivering my general debate speech in the House. There's something powerful about standing in that chamber where so many important decisions are made.’ 

Having wanted to be a MP since he was young, he loves to immerse himself in the politics around him. Through community involvement, council updates, local news, and korero with people around him. Nikau finds the conversations with rangatahi and his fellow Nelson City Youth Council members the most enjoyable and valuable to him. 

Nikau approaches this role with pride as he represents his iwi Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Apa, and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. He hopes to be a voice for the rangatahi from underrepresented backgrounds ‘especially Māori, working-class, and rural communities’. Nikau stays passionate about the equity in representation in politics. Not just seen, but heard, communicated with. He feels those with his type of background often do not get a mic to be heard and therefore is ready to take advantage of his opportunity as Youth MP with resilience, humility, or strong work ethic – as his whānau inspires him to do so daily. 

To do well for his community drives him to take up every opportunity offered to him. From first impressions only, he may look like someone who, in his words, ‘gives off “has a gold membership he doesn’t use type of vibes’, but is really someone who would enjoy a conversation about the Warriors’ latest signing over a drink.

When it comes to answering how government can use sport and physical activity to improve young people’s lives, Nikau believes access is the answer. Whether it gained through funding, support, and community investment, he experiences first hand in his community where it struggles to approach this question. ‘Many whānau can’t afford club fees, transport, or gear. Some parents are working long hours or just don’t have the means to get their kids to the field. And there are thousands of young people missing out because sport’s has become a luxury.’ He sees the danger in opportunities that improve a youth’s physical wellbeing becoming a privilege. Nikau hopes through being one of the 143 Youth MPs, he can take actions towards improving this problem.