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On the 15th of August I arrived in Wellington to participate in Youth Parliament 2004.
 One hundred and twenty Youth Parliamentarians gathered from all over New Zealand with a common interest in the running and future of our nation, ready to experience three days in the shoes of a politician. The three-day event was organised and run by the Ministry of Youth Development.
Over the days we participated in a mock legislative debate. The Debating Chamber was taken over and the "real" politicians were left to sit watching in the Gallery. We debated three aspects of the Minimum Ages Bill. It was agreed decisively that The Age of Majority be lowered to 18 years. The minimum age for a person to hold a driver's licence was voted to remain at 15 years and the drinking age was also voted to remain at 18.
Many people have pointed out that of course a room of 17 year olds would vote in favour of the drinking age remaining at 18!
But the speeches were well researched. A common argument was that at the age of 18 many teenagers are stepping away from their parents and becoming independent.
At this age you are allowed to be married and fight for your country. Being disallowed to socialise with alcohol doesn't fit in with these other laws and conditions.
It was also pointed out that problems with teenage drinking are more common in the 14 to 16 year old age group.
Students were also given the opportunity to participate in the General Debate with the freedom to raise any issue they liked.
A topic which was commonly raised was the new NCEA education system. I have been the guinea pig of NCEA for all three levels introduced into my school.
From my perspective, there are no problems with the new qualifications. It will take time for it to be fully established and function smoothly but that is to be expected with any change.
I was surprised that so many Youth Parliamentarians were not in favour of the new education system.
Other topics which were commonly raised were Māori affairs, including whether the Māori language should be a compulsory subject within our schools.
During the three days we were put into Select Committees to research and review relevant issues New Zealand is facing. I was the chairperson for the committee researching whether tax on "alcopops" should be raised to reduce teenage drinking.
This subject was interesting, as it is something teenagers can easily relate to. What I found most rewarding was contributing ideas that may help in resolving the complex issue of excessive teenage drinking. In our committees we carried out interviews and put together a report.
Our committee came to the conclusion that raising taxes on "alcopops" would have little improvement on teenage drinking. Our main argument was that increasing the price on one alcoholic beverage would only encourage teenagers to compromise and change to something cheaper.
A highlight of my trip was the opportunity to mix with many famous New Zealand personalities, such as Dame Sylvia Cartwright, Nandor Tanczos, Jonathan Hunt and Don Brash.
We were given a tour around Parliament, which included the room where Cabinet meetings are held. This room is not normally shown on usual tours.
We were also shown the rooms where the Speaker, Jonathan Hunt, lives during the week. I had not realised that he lives on the Parliament premises.
Throughout my time at Parliament I was overwhelmed by the way young people were respected and their opinions valued.
Now, am I inspired to pursue a career as a politician? I'm still unsure, but I have learnt so much through this experience that will help me whatever the future may bring.
Before attending Youth Parliament I knew little about politics and the process of making decisions within our country. I now have a much better understanding and can see the importance of the system and its role within New Zealand.
As a country we are quick to criticise politicians. Through this experience I realised that it is a challenging job, making decisions that you know will not please everyone.
At Youth Parliament I was advised that to go far in politics it is important to have your own opinions and values, but be prepared to listen and accept others. I believe this does not just relate to politics, but to all aspects of life.
Many thanks to Georgina Beyer, who gave me the opportunity for such an awesome experience. I encourage all young people in Wairarapa who are keen to expand their horizons to apply for this role next time.
As young people, it is important to make the most of all opportunities offered. These opportunities are what shape and extend us - ultimately they are the building blocks for our future.
So make the most of them!
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