During the July holidays, I had the privilege of spending four transformative days at Parliament as a Youth Member of Parliament (Youth MP) for 2025. Earlier this year. I was selected by Green Party MP Steve Abel to represent him and since then, my journey has been nothing short of life-changing.

New Zealand Youth Parliament is held every three years, where young people (16-25 years old) learn about democracy by taking on the roles of Members of Parliament and participating in mock parliamentary proceedings. There are 123 Youth Members of Parliament (MPs) and 20 Youth Press Gallery members. 

Over the past four months, I’ve been working hard to uplift youth voices and bring real community issues into political spaces. I hosted events and held countless meetings with young people, community leaders, and local organisers. I wanted to ensure that the voices I carried into Parliament weren’t just my own, but reflected the lived realities of those around me.

My primary research focus was on gambling harm and its impact on youth, a topic often overlooked in policy spaces. It was challenging navigating this work on my own and stepping into community spaces with less experience, but the support of Steve Abel and his team really helped me grow and back myself. During our Youth Parliament committee meetings, I had the chance to present my findings and collaborate with other Youth MPs and government officials to draft a policy document.

I’ll never forget the moment I stood in the chamber, listening to powerful speeches and getting the chance to directly question Ministers myself. That space was filled with energy, courage, and the belief that young people deserve a seat at the table.

One of the most exciting parts of this role was the chance to travel, meet MPs across the country, and spend time in the Green Party offices in Wellington. I had spontaneous interviews, ran into MPs in corridors, and even got roped into unexpected media appearances. It was intimidating at first, but each conversation helped me realise that politics is built by people and that I belonged in those spaces too.

I also launched campaigns, spoke to journalists, and began carving out spaces for youth and ethnic minorities in political discourse. I’m especially proud of being featured in this RNZ interview

Although the in-person Youth Parliament event is over, I will continue serving as a Youth MP for the next few months. There’s still more work to do, and I’m excited to keep pushing, learning, and speaking up. This role has connected me with incredible young changemakers, allowed me to build genuine relationships with MPs, and made me feel a deeper sense of responsibility to speak up for my community. It also taught me the power of political advocacy and reminded me that the most powerful change often starts with a single conversation and the courage to speak. 

My official youth parliament profile

- Esha Ram