Keelan Heesterman's passion for politics made him the perfect candidate to be Tukituki's Youth MP.
The 18-year-old has had a busy 2021 - he's taken on the role of Karamu High School head boy as well as chair of the Hastings Youth Council.
Tukituki MP Anna Lorck said Heesterman would be "an excellent representative for Hastings and the electorate because he's well across local issues for young people living here".
Becoming a youth member of Parliament will give Heesterman, along with 119 other youth MPs the opportunity to advocate for their communities and debate the issues they are passionate about on a national platform.
Heesterman said he was "stoked" to have been selected for the role.