Young leader meets political leader

LEADERSHIP MEETING: Whanganui Intermediate young leader Mia Perkins meeting Prime Minister John Key last week. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Whanganui Intermediate student Mia Perkins received a special invitation to meet the Prime Minister on Friday.

The invitation came from MP Chester Borrows who thought Mia would be a good representative because of her leadership and speech-making abilities.

Mia was the winner of the inter-schools speech contest last year and she will be competing in the 2016 competition next term.

As a recipient of a Sir Peter Blake Young Leadership Award, Mia said she enjoys her roles as class counsellor and house captain.

"I get to be a voice for students and I take on responsibilities like recording class attendance when the teacher is busy.

"I enjoy it, it is fun and the work is very rewarding," she said.
Students from a number of Whanganui Schools met the Prime Minister at the Whanganui Regional Museum on Friday and gathered in parliamentary formation in the foyer to ask Mr Key a few questions.

The Prime Minister was quizzed about everything from whether New Zealand is safe from terrorist attacks to his favourite Olympic events.

He replied that New Zealand is safer than most places but an attack is possible.

Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney's performance at the Olympics was his favourite watch because she is the recipient of one of his PM scholarships which are for university students who are high performance sports people as well.