Youngest New Zealand MP in over 150 years delivers powerful first speech

The youngest MP to be elected in Aotearoa/New Zealand Parliament in over 150 years had delivered her first speech.

Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke MP is just 21 years old and won the seat of Hauraki-Waikato in October’s general election.

On Wednesday night, Maipi-Clarke from Te Pāti Māori (the Māori party) stood before the Parliament chamber to deliver her first speech in the House.

She began with an invigorating haka, with her family, friends and members of the whānau (Māori word for family/community) joining from the balcony above.

Maipi-Clarke spoke both in Māori language, Te Reo, and English.

“We’ve come so far, but we’ve got a long way to go,” she said.

“We are here, we are sailing, we are navigating – just like our ancestors.”

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Youngest New Zealand MP in over 150 years delivers powerful first speech