NZ Model Parliament 2021 - High School Student Registration

Important registrations note: The form is time limited (20 minutes) and each question has a strict 400 character limit. We recommend writing out any answers in a separate document (taking note of character limits) before copying them over.

If you want to pay later or apply for a scholarship, please ONLY select those tickets. Do not also select the paid tickets - your checkout total should be $0. If you select paid tickets you will be asked for payment details.

When will you hear back about your application? If you apply by 18 July, you will hear about your application for the conference and for the Regional Delegation soon after registrations close on 18 July - most likely within a few days.

WHAT IS NZ MODEL PARLIAMENT?

New Zealand Model Parliament is a three day event designed for high school students to experience Parliament as a change-maker. With select committees on thought-provoking topics, deep-dives into current issues through workshops and parliamentary debate, NZMP is an experiential crash course into the workings of Parliament. As a participant, you will gain a thorough understanding of how Parliament’s laws affects our lives, inter-party politics, and the legislative process. You will also practice your soft skills of critical thinking, public speaking and collaboration (read: an incredible opportunity to meet other community-driven engaged high school students all around Aotearoa!). We cater to all experience and knowledge levels, so all we need from you is to bring yourself! NZMP will be held in Christchurch from Friday 10th September to Sunday 12th September.

WHAT IS UN YOUTH?

We are a non-profit organisation that provides civics education outside the traditional classroom context. Through fun workshops and conferences, we engage youth in the most pressing affairs of their country and the international community. Our goal is to inspire young New Zealanders to be active, global citizens. Global citizenship exists in an incredibly diverse range of forms, and UN Youth provides opportunities for delegates to develop their own form of active citizenship. Throughout Aotearoa, our work equips young people to become informed, engaged, and critical New Zealanders who understand their global context and the connections between the local and the global. Annually, over 3000 young New Zealanders from Northland to Southland attend a UN Youth event, run by a body of 150 volunteers across the country who dedicate many hours of their time to engaging young people and growing the organisation.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE CONFERENCE?

Representatives

You will be allocated a party role to represent, as well as a select committee committee topic that you'll have the chance to discuss and debate in depth. Just like in traditional Model UN format, you'll represent the views of the party you've been assigned. As part of the official vehicle of change in Aotearoa, you will work with your party on the proposed mock bill and engage in your given select committee. Only you, as a representative, can voice your party and electorate views within parliamentary discussions and work with other representatives to create a bill that represents the 2021 NZMP cohort. Workshops at the conference will also give you a chance to step out of the simulation to discuss and represent your own views.

Press Representatives

In this role, you will be assigned a NZ media body to represent, such as The Spinoff or RNZ. The press hold the important role in democratic nations as accountability mechanisms for our government. To simplify, you will poke, prod, and generally cause a little bit of chaos in the parliamentary sector. Your role allows you to question Members of Parliament and contribute to a daily newsletter about what goes on in the House. You'll also get to run the NZMP press conferences and engage in some hands on investigative journalism.

WHAT IS THE REGIONAL DELEGATION?

The Regional Delegation provides accommodation, food, and holistic care to ensure participants outside of Christchurch can attend New Zealand Model Parliament. As a participant, staying with the regional delegation means you will be under the care of the UN Youth team. Under the supervision of older, experienced UN Youth volunteers, you will be taken to and from the event venue, stay at a hostel with other participants and be provided all meals outside conference hours. Not only does the regional delegation guarantee that you’ll be well cared for, you will also meet other wonderful participants also staying with RD. Note that the Regional Delegation fee does NOT cover travel/flights to and from Christchurch - you will need to organise these yourself. 

Please Note: The Regional Delegation fee is not inclusive of the conference fee. When Registering for the Regional Delegation, if you are intending to pay upfront you need to pay for the Regional Delegation Fee as well as the Conference Fee, however, you also have the option to pay for both later. 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

We have a number of scholarships available to cover the conference fee and/or regional delegation fee. Scholarships are intended to provide financial support to those who otherwise might not be able to attend the conference due to the barrier of cost. Scholarships are funded through a mix of internal funding, the UN Youth Trust, and external sponsors. Funding to assist with travel costs will also be available through application to the Equity fund.

National Equity Fund

You may also be eligible to apply for financial support through the National Equity Fund. More information about how this process works can be found here and you can apply through this form.

SELECT COMMITTEE TOPICS

Justice

Despite the name, the Justice Select Committee looks at more than just matters of crime and justice. You might enjoy the Justice Select Committee if you’re interested in: matters of human rights, voting eligibility, or the finer details of how elections are run.

Environment

Love the environment? Then you’ll love the Environment Select Committee. You might enjoy the Environment Select Committee if you’re interested in: climate change, farming, environmental sustainability, keeping our waterways clean, or nature and conservation.

Economic Development, Science and Innovation

If you enjoy a bit of variety, this Select Committee has a wide scope. You might enjoy the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee if you’re interested in: business & industry, innovation, science and technology, or tourism.

Health

Public health has been a focus in the media for the last year and a half, and this is your chance to jump in to the discussion. You might enjoy the Health Select Committee if you’re interested in: healthcare, PHARMAC and drug funding, or nutrition. 

Education and Workforce

You've all experienced the results of Education policy first hand - now it's your chance to have a say! And from education onwards, what do you want your future workforce to look like? You might enjoy the Education and Workforce Select Committee if you’re interested in: the NZ education system, worker's right and labour standards, or accident compensation.

Māori Affairs

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document, and thus has wide reaching implication on every other area of policy. You might enjoy the Māori Affairs Select Committee if you’re interested in: indigenous rights and representation, land ownership, The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the protection and preservation of taonga. 

Finance and Expenditure

Like to focus on the finer details? You might enjoy the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee if you’re interested in: fiscal and economic policy, New Zealand's national budget, taxes, and government expenditure.

For any questions about the event, or to change details of your application, feel free to contact our Registrations Manager Amelia Cai at amelia.cai@unyouth.org.nz 

This registration submission authorises UN Youth New Zealand the right to capture my image and likeness in photos, videos and other media footage (“footage”). Additionally, it authorises UN Youth New Zealand the right to edit, publish and distribute any and all footage of me without any compensation to be used for any lawful purpose (e.g. creating promotional material).This registration submission authorises UN Youth New Zealand the right to collect, store and use any and all demographic information of me to be used for any lawful purpose (e.g. tracking who our organisation is reaching). This demographic information will not be individually identifiable. The foregoing authorisations shall continue indefinitely unless I otherwise revoke them in writing to privacy@unyouth.org.nz.