Tyler Oroanu is set to amplify young voices in NZ Youth Parliament

In less than a month, over 150 young people from across New Zealand will gather in Wellington for Youth Parliament, and Tyler Oroanu will be among them.

He will represent Labour MP Jenny Salesa at the two-day event in Parliament.

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Oroanu shares that his passion for politics developed during the Covid-19 lockdown.

"I've always been like an eternal politics nerd,” Oroanu says. “There were quite a few people encouraging me to put my hand up when applications came around for Youth Parliament. I wasn't convinced I was going to get it.”

Oroanu is driven to represent the voices of young people, particularly Pacific youth from his home community of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu. "My opinion has always been that if I'm not going to do it, I don't know who else will.”

Youth Parliament was first held in 1994 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the voting age being lowered to 18.

Due to the success of the inaugural event, the then Minister of Youth Affairs was invited by Cabinet to hold a Youth Parliament every three years.

Since 2019, the event has seen an increase in Pacific representation, with this year featuring the highest number of Pacific Youth Press Gallery participants.

Oroanu and MP Jenny Salesa. Photo/Supplied

Notable alumni include advocate Shaneel Lal and former Justice Minister Kris Faafoi.

Since taking on the role, Oroanu has actively engaged with the community.

At the upcoming event in July, he will be given a three-minute slot in the general debate, during which he can speak on any topic.

Just over 13 per cent of participants in Youth Parliament 2019 were Pacific. Photo/NZ Youth Parliament 2019

"There's a decorum that you need in Parliament, and I don't fully intend to keep to it,” he says.

With family roots in Sāmoa and the Cook Islands, Oroanu credits his family's support as the foundation of his political journey. “I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for any of them.”

Watch Tyler Oroanu's full interview below.