Abbey brings youth voice to tricky topics

ABBEY 4 YOUTH: Abbey May Wakefield won the Rangatahi 4 Youth Award for bringing a youth voice to New Zealand politics, appearing as a panelist on Back Benchers.

With an internship on a political TV show and a Wairarapa Youth Award under her belt, Abbey May Wakefield's journalism career is off to a promising start.

The St Matthew's College student was presented with a Rangatahi 4 Youth Award -- for young people who participated in an activity which addresses youth issues -- at this month's Youth Awards ceremony at Kuranui College.

Aspiring television journalist Abbey recently appeared as a youth panelist on the Prime TV political interview show Back Benchers, debating issues such as the flag referendum and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) alongside seasoned politicians.

While volunteering for TVNZ during the last school holidays, Abbey put together a business proposal for the Back Benchers producers, pitching herself as a youth representative on the show.

Over several weeks, she travelled to Wellington on a Wednesday evening to film an episode, having to remain composed and elegant while sharing her opinion with the hosts and a live audience -- and then returning home for school in the morning.

"It was hard, but rewarding," Abbey said.

"I thought it was important to put a youth voice and an original view to some of these big issues.

"Youth are the future leaders, but people aren't used to hearing our perspective on politics because, quite often, we're not being asked.

"As youth, we should be able to offer our opinions on how something can be solved."

This is not the first time Abbey has been in front of a camera -- as a young child she appeared in the film 30 Days of Night, shot partly in New Zealand, and on Kiwi TV show The New Tomorrow.

She had originally planned a career as a film director, but decided journalism would be "more reliable".

"I saw [TVNZ US correspondent] Jack Tame on TV reporting from New York, and thought 'I'd like to do that'."

At secondary school, she did work experience with TVNZ as an assistant journalist, accompanying reporters on jobs, doing research and conducting interviews with members of the public on the street.

Highlights include helping out with filming snow scenes in Upper Hutt, researching gut cleanses for a story on the subject, and meeting a person who made security cameras.

"You meet people you never knew existed, and you wouldn't meet normally.

"It's amazing -- people really trust you with their life story."

Abbey said her experience with Back Benchers was initially daunting, as she had to do "quite a bit of research" on topics she hadn't previously given much thought.

"I got my parents to help me out at first.

"Plus, it's hard when the camera's on you and you have to think on your feet -- it's not like learning a script."

Favourite topics of discussion include the use of recreational drugs before work, the TPP and the proposed flag change -- which she thinks is "stupid".

"I don't agree with the TPP either -- it's all been so secretive, and it could make things like medicines more expensive."

Abbey, who said she was "really pleased" with her youth award, plans to apply for the New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch this April.