Young MPs face leadership challenges
What are the steps that New Zealand should take to support the Millennium Development Goals within the 2015 deadline set by the UN? Should we retain the existing National Flag or change it? How can we maximise the economic benefits and our green credentials for the Rugby World Cup in 2011? These are some of the questions that 122 young parliamentarians (in the 16-18 age group) will ask and debate the pros and cons of issues when they assemble in the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington on July 6 and 7. Between House and Select Committee Meetings, their deliberations will cover education, health, social services, foreign affairs, trade, transport and industry, local government and environment. Each of them has been chosen by a sitting Member of Parliament to represent him or her, except that the temporary politicians will not be able to bring about changes in the real world. But they will carry home invaluable experience, which may prove useful at a later date. Among them would be 13 young men and women of Indian, Subcontinent or Middle East origin, arguably the largest in the minority segment. The future leaders will also discuss the desirability of teaching entrepreneurship as a subject of study at school, ways and means of protecting the intellectual property of New Zealand musicians against copyright breach, the impact to alcohol on youngsters and the best method of creating a smoke-free generation by 2020. They will also find the best way to tap into the talent of young Maoris living in Australia and that of young Kiwis returning with overseas experience. The topics were finalised by real parliamentarians at the Multi-Party Steering Committee meeting held in Wellington on March 16.
Nominating MP Party Youth MP School Amy Adams National Hannah Singh Darfield High School Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi National Akash Rampal Auckland University Dr Ashraf Choudhary QSO Labour Shameela Nassery Rutherford College Paula Bennett National Sunil Datt Sharma Waitakere College Ruth Dyson Labour Benezair Kumar Van Asch Deaf Edcn Centre Phil Goff Labour Shruthi Vijayakumar University of Auckland Phil Heatley National Vishakham Joseph Whangarei Girls High School Dr Paul Hutchison National Neelam Hari Pukekohe Christian School Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga National Monisha Priyanka Singh Onehunga High School Trevor Mallard Labour Thomas Maharaj St Bernard’s College Dr Rajen Prasad Labour Shail Kaushal Mt Roskill Grammar Carmel Sepuloni Labour Thoraya Abdul-Rassol Kelston Girls College Maurice Williamson National Nadia Ali Macleans College
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There is nothing of eastern origin to mention, and I wonder how many others on this list are from the same upbringings.
An Indian name in New Zealand does not mean an Indian background, there upbringing, and exposure to culture do. I would be asking if they can speak something other than English and understand Indian Tradition and Custom as a start, before saying a minority group is being represented.
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