The Youth Debate
Description
Join us at Q Theatre for the biggest youth-focused election candidate debate of 2026! Doors open from 5:30pm with the debate starting at 6:15pm.
Every election, politicians debate the future of Aotearoa. They talk about housing, education, jobs, the cost of living, climate change, and the country they want to build. But the people who will live with those decisions the longest are too often left out of the conversation.
Young people have a future at stake too. Yet too often, we're spoken about rather than spoken with. The Youth Debate is about changing that.
Hosted by Make It 16, Gen-Z Aotearoa, Tomorrow Together, Social Change Collective, On A Roll, and other youth organisations from across Aotearoa, this debate brings political leaders together from across the spectrum to answer questions directly from young people ahead of the 2026 General Election.
Whether you're in high school, at university, in training, or already in work, this is your chance to challenge ideas, compare policies, and have your voice heard on the issues shaping your future.
We believe meaningful participation shouldn't begin the day you turn 18. Young people deserve opportunities to engage with our democracy, challenge ideas, and contribute to the conversations that shape our country. This Youth Debate is one way we're making sure that happens.
Whether you're voting in this election, voting for the first time, or still waiting for your chance, your voice belongs in this conversation.
This event is FREE to register - see you there!
Can't make it in person? No worries, we'll be livestreaming it from Facebook.
We are grateful for the support of the Clare Foundation in bringing this event to life.
Agenda
- 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm
Mix & mingle
- 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
THE DEBATE
PARTY REPRESENATIVE PANEL
We'll have candidates from the National Party, Labour Party, Green Party, ACT Party, Te Pāti Māori, New Zealand First Party, and Opportunity Party.
MC - William Terite
Journalist, Pacific Media Network, and host of Pacific Mornings.
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke - Te Pāti Māori
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke is the Member of Parliament for Hauraki-Waikato and a member of Te Pāti Māori. Ms Maipi-Clarke first entered Parliament in 2023 at the age of 21. She is currently a member of Parliament’s Culture Subcommittee and the Māori Affairs Select Committee.
Chlöe Swarbrick - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Chlöe Swarbrick, based in Auckland Central, is the Co-Leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Member of Parliament for Auckland Central. Ms Swarbrick first entered Parliament in 2017 as a Green Party list MP and has represented Auckland Central since 2020. She is the Green Party spokesperson for Climate Change, Finance, Revenue, Mental Health, and Drug Law Reform.
Vicky Hau - New Zealand First
Vicky Hau is a New Zealand-born Tongan with deep roots in Māngere, South Auckland, where she was raised and continues to work today. Vicky holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago and a Master of Public Management from Victoria University of Wellington. Vicky is the New Zealand First candidate for Mangere.
Arena Williams - Labour Party
Arena Williams, based in Manurewa, is the Member of Parliament for Manurewa and a member of the New Zealand Labour Party. Ms Williams first entered Parliament in 2020. She is currently Labour’s spokesperson for Building and Construction, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Youth. She has previously served as Chairperson of the Māori Affairs Committee and as Assistant Labour Whip.
Daniel Eb - Opportunity Party
Daniel Eb, based in North Auckland, is the Deputy Leader of the Opportunity Party and its candidate for Kaipara ki Mahurangi. Mr Eb is a social impact founder in the food and fibre sector, and previously founded a communications agency and Open Farms, a nationwide open farm day initiative. He is also a Nuffield scholar and former rural media commentator.
Mahesh Muralidhar - National Party
Mahesh Muralidhar is the Chief Executive of Phase One Ventures, a New Zealand venture firm that supports and funds startups to grow and succeed. He mentors and invests in startups across New Zealand and serves on the board of Ministry of Awesome. He is the National candidate for Tamaki.
Antonia Modkova - ACT Party
Antonia Modkova is an intellectual property lawyer, computer scientist, and Director of Intellectual Property and Innovation at Soul Machines, where she has helped build one of New Zealand’s leading AI patent portfolios across more than 10 jurisdictions. Antonia is the ACT Party Candidate for Auckland Central.
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