Bay Harbour: November 14, 2018

PAGE 8 Wednesday November 14 2018
BAY HARBOUR
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Youth MPs ready to represent Port Hills
Fire rages, homes at risk
• By Matt Salmons
THREE ASPIRING politicians
will represent the Port Hills
electorate at next year’s Youth
Parliament.
They will be Woolston’s Freya
Young, 17, Hillmorton’s Cha’nel
Kaa-Luke, 17, and Westmorland’s
Azaria Howell, 16.
Ruth Dyson
said her selection,
Cha’nel,
was “a really
talented young
woman” who
was keen,
willing and
Cha’nel
Kaa-Luke
able to be her
representative
at Youth
Parliament.
“I have always had the position
of ensuring that a deaf student
from Van Asch Deaf Education
Centre is my Youth MP. It is
part of my promotion of deaf
issues and ensures that the Youth
Parliament has a deaf participant
and sign language interpreters,”
Ms Dyson said.
Cha’nel said she was “very
proud and ready” to take on the
role as she had always strived to
be a leader.
Some of her deaf friends had
taken Youth MP roles before and
inspiring her to try it herself.
“I had been along to watch
FOCUSED: (Left) – Port Hills National Youth MP Freya Young and Nuk Korako. (Right) – Eugenie Sage and Port Hills Green Party
Youth MP Azaria Howell.
and I have always intrigued me
as to what different people are
passionate about or feel are important.
I also have also had an
interest in law and politics.”
She said her main focus would
be issues facing deaf people
in New Zealand and bringing
understanding and empathy to
those “who struggle a bit more
than the average person.”
Port Hills National list MP
Nuk Korako said he had made
his choice based on Freya’s keen
attitude and dedication.
“She was the standout, very
capable. I think she’s got a very
good future ahead.”
“This is what I love about [this]
programme. You get to meet a
lot of our young ones right at the
start who you know then they
are going to go far.”
Freya said the selection was the
“biggest accomplishment of my
life so far.”
The experienced debater and
aspiring youth councillor said
she would focus on championing
freedom of speech and freeing
business from regulation during
her term as Youth MP.
“I think, right now, that Government
is too big.”
Freya said she wanted to “emulate
a real MP” for the experience
and expand her knowledge of the
issues facing the country.
“I’ve got a real interest in politics
as its definitely the best way
to make changes.”
Green Party Port Hills list MP
Eugenie Sage’s selection, Azaria
Howell, is an experienced representative
for youth.
Said Ms Sage: “I am impressed
with her political engagement,
her skills in the sport of fencing,
always a useful skill in politics,
and how she is prepared to speak
out on a range of issues.”
Azaria had been on the executive
of the Christchurch Youth
Council for a number of years
and had volunteered with the
Green Party.
The party’s values and focus on
the environment and community
well-being aligned with hers,
she said, and she was excited to
be its representative.
“I was really happy. I’m privileged
to be in this position.”
Azaria said she will work to
ensure the youth voice in her
area was heard. “They actually
have new ideas to bring to the
table.” •Dyson’s column, p15
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