Prime Minister's Youth Parliament address receives mixed reviews

By Emelie Wissel, Youth Press Gallery, Youth Parliament 2025

Note: Articles in this newsletter edition were produced by the Youth Press Gallery at various stages of the Youth Parliament 2025 programme. Accordingly, the content presented reflects the context and timing at the date of its original writing.

Speaking to the roughly 140 Youth Parliament and Youth Press Gallery members in Wellington on 01 July 2025. Luxon’s comments focused on leadership experience and what keeps him motivated.

“It’s not your book smarts that is going to determine your success, it’s ultimately going to be your people skills and who you are. Who you are matters a lot more than what you actually do,” he said.

He told the Youth MPs that young people tend to get lost when they focus only on perfection, academics, and knowledge. He said it was important that young people focus on improving how their communication skills, as well as their ability to manage conflict and remain curious every day.

Youth MP for Southland-based MP Todd Stephenson, Hunter Heath said he was inspired by the Prime Minister’s comments.

“He grew up on the same streets as I have for the past four, five years. Having worked in Merrivale Maccas to being in the highest levels of Parliament and the highest levels of leadership,” he said, adding that Luxon’s comments on success resonated with him.

“It’s like a lesson in public speaking and just following your own convictions.”

But Wigram Youth MP, EJ Coffin, was not as impressed – saying Luxon missed an opportunity to address some areas of concerns for the Youth MPs in the room.

During speeches in a General Debate session, a number of Youth MPs spoke out about censorship of their speeches – claiming the Ministry of Youth Development had forced them to remove references critical of the Government.

The Ministry denied this, saying they were provided suggestions for changes to speeches to make them less partisan – and Youth MPs had the final say over what they said.

Nevertheless, Coffin said Luxon “should have addressed the comments, addressed it there, and clarified why Youth Parliament did those edits. He didn’t see the room. He saw himself.”

Youth MP for East Christchurch, Emma Yule, meanwhile, stressed the importance of rangatahi (young people) collaboration in the parliament decision, “They are making a decision on the behalf of us when we don’t get a voice.”

However, Youth Minister James Meager said recommendations were there, “to ensure that they stay safe… As politicians we have almost unadulterated free speech, we have protection from legal liabilities - the young people don’t.”

In fact, Meager said the contributions he heard were robust and challenging, in a lot of cases, critical of various government policies.

“I am very comfortable that young people came here and were able to speak their minds.”