Join the next generation of Aotearoa politicians on the campaign trail, and watch them debate – a second series of Youth Wings is coming soon.
If you like your politics authentic, impassioned and entertaining, if you want fresh, fiery ideas and debate, without the weary varnish of spin and cynicism, and if you fancy peering squintily through a window into the future of politics in Aotearoa, then there is no doubt what you need. You need the youth wings, and you need Youth Wings.
Three years ago, we embarked on the first documentary series about New Zealand political youth wings, following leading figures from the younger offshoots of Labour, National, the Greens, Act and NZ First as they set about their campaigning work ahead of the election. Our hopes for Youth Wings 2020 were high, and they were exceeded.
Jay, Aryana, Adam, Danielle, Matariki and Felix were a zephyr of energy, full of good ideas and good fun. We joined them all in their homes, at campus events and alongside their senior counterparts, culminating in a debate to which every one of them brought the insights and the laughs.
Unavoidably, we had to do it all again in 2023. Thanks to New Zealand On Air, director Eddy Fifield, producer Natalie Wilson and the Hex Work Productions team have been busy over the recent months traversing the country to spend time with a new crop of future luminaries, who will again assemble for a debate at the Auckland town hall.
We can’t wait to introduce them to you. In the meantime, you can revisit the Youth Wings good times of 2020, below.
Youth Wings 2020
Episode One – Young NZ First
Jay McLaren-Harris had always wanted to meet Winston Peters. Then one day on the main street of Dargaville, he did.
Episode Two – Young Labour
Adam Brand was born into a family of die-hard Labour supporters and raised on tales of the party’s greatest achievements. Now he wants to help write the next chapter.
Episode Three – Young Greens
From day one, the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has been a party led by co-leaders. That philosophy extends to the party’s youth wing, with 2020 co-convenors Danielle Marks (Te Arawa) and Matariki Roche (Ngāti Raukawa).
Episode Four – Young Act
Young Act president for 2020 (and now on the 2023 list at 25th) Felix Poole loves the freedom his party’s youth wing has to speak out and advocate for radical policy ideas. But are there certain lines that need to be drawn within the youth wing itself? Content warning: This episode contains themes of sexual harassment, which may be distressing to some viewers.
Episode Five – Young Nats
Aryana Nafissi’s favourite show is Question Time on Parliament TV, which her sister Azita agrees is “better than Real Housewives”. And the 2020 Young Nats Northern chairperson saw her fair share of drama unfold, with three different leaders taking the reins of her party in a year.
Episode Six – The Debate
Filmed live at the concert chamber of the Auckland Town Hall, six leaders from the youth wings of Aotearoa’s biggest political parties went head-to-head.