Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui's Taylor Renata Nikora represents Te Tai Hauāuru MP Adrian Rurawhe in Parliament

Sue Dudman
By Sue Dudman
News director - Whanganui Chronicle·Whanganui Chronicle·
23 Jul, 2019 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Taylor Renata Nikora says he has a new respect for politicians after being a member of this year's Youth Parliament.

Taylor Renata Nikora says he has a new respect for politicians after being a member of this year's Youth Parliament.

Whanganui's Taylor Renata Nikora has no political aspirations, yet found himself sitting in Te Tai Hauāuru MP Adrian Rurawhe's seat in Parliament.

Nikora, 20, was Rurawhe's representative at last week's Youth Parliament.

"Everything I do tends to be community and taking it back to my school," Nikora said.

"I'm not a political person at all."

The former Te Kura o Kokohuia student is studying bicultural social services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa but is planning to change to a career teaching te reo Māori.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

His Youth Parliament experience came about after Te Wānanga o Aotearoa students were hosted by Labour Māori MPs at Parliament last year.

"When we introduced ourselves and our whakapapa, I did my part all in te reo Māori. We got to ask them a question and when it was my turn I asked about the waiting list for transgender people to get surgery. It's crazy – I couldn't even get on the list.

"After that, Adrian rang and asked me if I wanted to be his Youth Member of Parliament. He picked me because of my reo Māori and how connected I am with my community and my school."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Youth MPs met with MPs from all parties at the start of the Youth Parliament.

"I felt way out of place and didn't feel I was the right person to be there," Nikora said.

"The other people were all really political. But then I was in the Māori Affairs Committee and the things we were talking about, I didn't need to know politics. You didn't need to be watching Parliament TV for your whole life – those [Youth MPs] had been preparing themselves for a long time."

The Māori Youth MPs also had a session with the Labour Māori caucus.

Discover more

Ratana centenary celebrations one to remember

14 Nov 03:00 AM

Whanganui youth MP chosen for 2019

20 Nov 11:00 PM

Adrian Rurawhe: Budget will create positive change in Te Tai Hauāuru

28 May 05:00 PM
New Zealand

Region's MPs oppose euthanasia, are unlikely to change

03 Jul 10:07 PM

"The others were asking political questions. I was more interested in what they were doing, when they saw their families, what happens if they have a tangi to go to. It seemed like a big struggle for them family-wise. I wouldn't want to do that."

The Youth Māori Affairs Committee focused on the Māori Land Wars.

"That's not taught in schools. We learn about World War I and World War II – and that's important – but we also need to acknowledge our local history. We pushed for it to be taught in schools and a day of remembrance for all people involved.

"We also wanted historic landmark signs at places where battles took place."

Taylor Renata Nikora chose te reo Māori as the subject of his speech to the Youth Parliament.
Taylor Renata Nikora chose te reo Māori as the subject of his speech to the Youth Parliament.

Nikora is passionate about te reo Māori and that was the subject of his three-minute Youth Parliament speech.

"Only 3.7 per cent of people in this country can speak Māori. People should be putting more effort into learning and revitalising and keeping our language alive because if we don't do it, no one else will.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I've had lots of responses on social media from people I don't even know. A lot of people share the same beliefs in keeping our reo alive, especially for the next generation."

Despite his lack of political aspirations, Nikora said the Youth Parliament experience was worthwhile.

"I wasn't there to get an eye on my seat which some of them were. For me, it was how does government work and the sacrifice our politicians make for the love of their people. Now I've had the chance to sit in their seat and wear their shoes, I don't know how they do it. I now have respect for politicians, especially our Māori ones and the things they sacrifice.

"I'd recommend the Youth Parliament to other young people. It's an amazing experience, even if you aren't interested in politics."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

live
Whanganui Chronicle

Flood-ravaged Nelson, Marlborough in the firing line again, Auckland to see storms

03 Jul 08:13 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

'Just incredible': Pupils save choking child on school bus

03 Jul 06:13 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

'Time to lead': Airline founder hands over to son after 40 years

03 Jul 06:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Flood-ravaged Nelson, Marlborough in the firing line again, Auckland to see storms
live

Flood-ravaged Nelson, Marlborough in the firing line again, Auckland to see storms

03 Jul 08:13 PM

The civil emergency in Nelson-Tasman was extended for seven days.

'Just incredible': Pupils save choking child on school bus

'Just incredible': Pupils save choking child on school bus

03 Jul 06:13 PM
'Time to lead': Airline founder hands over to son after 40 years

'Time to lead': Airline founder hands over to son after 40 years

03 Jul 06:00 PM
'Expand my horizons': Scholarship fuels student's global ambitions

'Expand my horizons': Scholarship fuels student's global ambitions

03 Jul 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP