New Zealand Young Nationals
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Young Nationals (Young Nats) are the youth wing of the New Zealand National Party
a centre-right political party in New Zealand. It is a member of the International Young Democrat Union
.
Some regions of the Young Nationals also may have branches. These include the Alfred Street Young Nationals , which are based in Auckland and considered a counter group to the Princes Street Labour
movement and VicNats which is based around Victoria University
. In 2011, the Young Nationals celebrated 75 years as New Zealand's oldest and largest political youth movement.
Voluntary Student Membership
Recently the Young Nationals have been at the forefront of lobbying the New Zealand Government to adopt and pass legislation that would move tertiary Students’ Associations to a system of voluntary membership. Currently, Student Union
membership is compulsory in New Zealand for most university students. They believe that students deserve the same choices as all other New Zealanders as students are the only group who are forced to join a union. As a result of this policy,
the Young Nationals, in conjunction with ACT on Campus
, Free Me and other New Zealanders, were successful in winning select committee
and subsequently government support to pass a private member's Bill
by ACT MP Heather Roy
to introduce voluntary membership to student associations in tertiary institutions . The Bill was successfully passed into law in September 2011, and will take effect in 2012.
Alcohol Reform
The Young Nationals, in conjunction with other New Zealand political party youth wings , support the current purchase age for alcohol of 18 years. They argue that the two biggest problems with the current law are the lack of emphasis on individual responsibility, and the ineffective attempts to enforce moderate drinking, and that raising the age, both at off-licences and at bars, will not solve the problem that New Zealand society faces around the issue of binge drinking. At the National Party Conference 2010 the Young Nationals successfully passed a remit, led by 2010 National Policy Chair Edward Greig, for the continuation of a drinking age of 18.
Driving Age
The Young Nationals do not support increasing the driving age and believe that it unjustly impacts on young people, without dealing with the real causes of poor driver skill levels. They believe that increasing driver training requirements as well as tougher testing will raise the levels of driver competence across all age brackets, and that raising the driving age does nothing to reduce the lack of driver skills.
Life Members
A number of other former members have taken up prominent roles across a number of sectors, such as Phil O'Reilly as CEO of Business New Zealand, John Marshall QC as President of the New Zealand Law Society and Paul Matheson
as Mayor of Nelson
.
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
a centre-right political party in New Zealand. It is a member of the International Young Democrat Union
International Young Democrat Union
The International Young Democrat Union is an international grouping of centre-right political youth organisations, encompassing conservative, classical liberal, and Christian democratic traditions. It is the youth wing of the International Democrat Union , which brings together centre-right...
.
History
The National Party has had a youth section since its inception in 1936 and the name Young Nationals has been used since 1969. The Young Nationals have been a strong lobby group inside the National Party, and often at the forefront of policy development being representative as a Core Group or a Policy Action Group of the party at varying times. For a short period during the party's earlier years there was a younger section of the National party for pre-teenage members but has since disappeared due to the changing environment of New Zealand politics and society.Organisation
In 2009, under major changes led by the organisation's governing executive, the Young Nationals were re-organised to serve as a more effective tool for policy activism and campaign activity. As of 2011, The Young Nationals are divided into five regions nationwide, Northern, Central North Island, Lower North Island, Canterbury/Westland and Southern. Each of these regions are headed by their own Chair and executive group and supervised by a National Executive, elected annually during the National Party Conference. The National Executive set the agenda and leadership for the Young Nationals during the year.Some regions of the Young Nationals also may have branches. These include the Alfred Street Young Nationals , which are based in Auckland and considered a counter group to the Princes Street Labour
Princes Street Labour
Princes Street Labour is a branch of the New Zealand Labour Party in Auckland.It is part of the Auckland Central Labour Electorate Committee. It is a "special branch" under the Labour Party constitution which means that members may live outside the boundaries of Auckland Central electorate and do...
movement and VicNats which is based around Victoria University
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
. In 2011, the Young Nationals celebrated 75 years as New Zealand's oldest and largest political youth movement.
Policies
Often the more liberal views of the Young Nationals have been at odds with those of the wider party. The shift in party opinion in areas such as the nuclear ships debate, economic reform, liquor law reform, and anti-discrimination laws has often been influenced by the Young Nationals.Voluntary Student Membership
Recently the Young Nationals have been at the forefront of lobbying the New Zealand Government to adopt and pass legislation that would move tertiary Students’ Associations to a system of voluntary membership. Currently, Student Union
Student union
Student union may refer to:* Students' union, or student government in the U.S., a student organization at many colleges and universities dedicated to student governance...
membership is compulsory in New Zealand for most university students. They believe that students deserve the same choices as all other New Zealanders as students are the only group who are forced to join a union. As a result of this policy,
the Young Nationals, in conjunction with ACT on Campus
ACT on Campus
ACT on Campus is the autonomous youth wing of the ACT Party; a classical liberal political party in New Zealand.- Description :ACT on Campus was first formed in 1996 at the Victoria University of Wellington and was originally called 'Prebble's Rebels' after former ACT Party leader Richard...
, Free Me and other New Zealanders, were successful in winning select committee
Select committee
A select committee is a special subcommittee of a legislature or assembly governed under a committee system, like Robert's Rules of Order. They are often investigative in nature, collecting data or evidence for a law or problem, and will dissolve immediately after they report their findings to...
and subsequently government support to pass a private member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
by ACT MP Heather Roy
Heather Roy
Heather Roy , is a New Zealand politician and has served as an ACT Member of Parliament since 2002. From 2006 until 17 August 2010, Roy was ACT's Deputy Leader...
to introduce voluntary membership to student associations in tertiary institutions . The Bill was successfully passed into law in September 2011, and will take effect in 2012.
Alcohol Reform
The Young Nationals, in conjunction with other New Zealand political party youth wings , support the current purchase age for alcohol of 18 years. They argue that the two biggest problems with the current law are the lack of emphasis on individual responsibility, and the ineffective attempts to enforce moderate drinking, and that raising the age, both at off-licences and at bars, will not solve the problem that New Zealand society faces around the issue of binge drinking. At the National Party Conference 2010 the Young Nationals successfully passed a remit, led by 2010 National Policy Chair Edward Greig, for the continuation of a drinking age of 18.
Driving Age
The Young Nationals do not support increasing the driving age and believe that it unjustly impacts on young people, without dealing with the real causes of poor driver skill levels. They believe that increasing driver training requirements as well as tougher testing will raise the levels of driver competence across all age brackets, and that raising the driving age does nothing to reduce the lack of driver skills.
Presidents
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Chris Whitta | 1969-1970 |
| Eric Bowell | 1970-1971 |
| Lachlan Ross | 1971-1972 |
| Paul Matheson Paul Matheson Paul Kenneth Matheson JP QSO Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1998 to 2007. Born in about 1948 and elected as a City councillor in 2010. Matherson's wife, Juliana, died of cancer just six weeks before he took office as Mayor and since that time he has been a fundraiser for the Nelson Cancer... |
1972-1973 |
| Murray McCully Murray McCully Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:... |
1973-1976 |
| S Pearson | 1976-1978 |
| Martin Gummer | 1978-1980 |
| Simon Upton Simon Upton Simon David Upton, QSO is a former New Zealand politician and member of Parliament from 1981 to 2001, representing the National Party.-Early life:... |
1980-1981 |
| Peter Kiely | 1981-1982 |
| Michelle Boag | 1982-1983 |
| Alistair Bell | 1983-1984 |
| Mark Lowndes | 1984-1985 |
| Phil O'Reilly | 1985-1986 |
| Craig Allan | 1986-1987 |
| Andrew Harvey | 1987-1989 |
| Wayne P Marriott | 1989-1990 |
| Bruce Alabaster | 1990-1990 |
| Elaine Enright | 1990-1991 |
| Shane Frith Shane Frith Shane Frith is a New Zealand politician and political activist. He is director of the Brussels-based think tank New Direction. He was director of Progressive Vision, a classical liberal think tank in London, and managing director of the Stockholm Network, an international network of classical... |
1991-1995 |
| Sarah Borrell | 1995-1996 |
| Mel Davis | 1996-1997 |
| Tim Hurdle | 1997-1999 |
| Daniel Gordon | 1999-2001 |
| Grant Tyrrell | 2001-2003 |
| Jamie Simpson | 2003-2005 |
| Michael Mabbett | 2005-2006 |
| Matthew Patterson | 2006-2008 |
| Alex Mitchell | 2008-2009 |
| Daniel Fielding | 2009-Present |
Political Alumni
Former Members- Rt Hon Sir Robert MuldoonRobert MuldoonSir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
- Former Prime Minister - Rt Hon Sir Jack MarshallJack MarshallSir John Ross Marshall, GBE, CH, , generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. After spending twelve years as Deputy Prime Minister, he served as the 28th Prime Minister for most of 1972....
- Former Prime Minister - Rt Hon Winston PetersWinston PetersWinston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
- Former Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of New Zealand FirstNew Zealand FirstNew Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992... - Rt Hon Simon UptonSimon UptonSimon David Upton, QSO is a former New Zealand politician and member of Parliament from 1981 to 2001, representing the National Party.-Early life:...
- Former Minister of Health - Rt Hon Johnathan Hunt ONZJonathan Hunt (New Zealand)Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...
- Former Labour Party MP and Speaker of the New Zealand House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the New Zealand House of RepresentativesIn New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives... - Hon Roger SowryRoger SowryRoger Morrison Sowry, ONZM is a former New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and was the deputy leader from 2001 to 2003.-Early life:...
- Former Minister of Social Welfare - Hon Ruth RichardsonRuth RichardsonRuth Richardson served as New Zealand's Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993, and is known for her strong pursuit of free-market economic reforms .-Early life:...
- Patron - Peter Goodfellow - Current Party President
- Hon Bill EnglishBill EnglishSimon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
- Current Deputy Prime Minister - Hon Dr Nick SmithNick Smith (New Zealand)Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
- Minister for ACC - Hon Tony RyallTony RyallAnthony Boyd Williams "Tony" Ryall is New Zealand politician. He has represented voters and the National Party in the New Zealand Parliament since 1990. Since November 2008 he has served as a cabinet minister, holding the posts of Minister of Health and Minister of State Services...
- Minister for Health - Michelle Boag - Former Party President
- Michael LawsMichael LawsMichael Laws is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and writer/columnist. He served two terms as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, representing the National Party and New Zealand First . He was elected as Mayor of Wanganui in 2004, was re-elected in 2007 but announced his retirement from...
- Former Mayor of Wanganui and Radio Commentator - Simon BridgesSimon BridgesSimon Bridges is a New Zealand politician and former District and High Court Crown prosecutor. Bridges is currently the representative for the electorate of Tauranga in the 49th New Zealand Parliament, as a member of the National Party.Bridges currently lives in Mount Maunganui with his wife,...
- Member of Parliament for Tauranga - Nikki KayeNikki KayeNicola Laura Kaye is the member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Auckland Central electorate, having defeated incumbent Labour MP Judith Tizard in the 2008 election.-Early life:...
- Member of Parliament for Auckland Central
Life Members
- Dr Rt Hon Lockwood SmithLockwood SmithAlexander Lockwood Smith is a New Zealand politician, the 28th and current Speaker of the House of Representatives. Smith is a member of the New Zealand National Party, who has served as a Member of Parliament since 1984...
- Current Speaker of the New Zealand House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the New Zealand House of RepresentativesIn New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives... - David FarrarDavid Farrar (New Zealand)David Peter Farrar is a New Zealand political activist, blogger, and pollster. He is a frequent commentator in the media on Internet issues. Farrar has held many roles within the New Zealand National Party and has worked in Parliament for four National Party leaders.His blog, Kiwiblog, is the most...
- KiwiblogKiwiblogKiwiblog is a popular New Zealand right of centre politics blog written by David Farrar.Kiwiblog is one of the most widely read blogs in New Zealand...
A number of other former members have taken up prominent roles across a number of sectors, such as Phil O'Reilly as CEO of Business New Zealand, John Marshall QC as President of the New Zealand Law Society and Paul Matheson
Paul Matheson
Paul Kenneth Matheson JP QSO Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand from 1998 to 2007. Born in about 1948 and elected as a City councillor in 2010. Matherson's wife, Juliana, died of cancer just six weeks before he took office as Mayor and since that time he has been a fundraiser for the Nelson Cancer...
as Mayor of Nelson
Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand
The Mayor of Nelson is the head of the municipal government of Nelson, New Zealand, and presides over the Nelson City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
.