Young Labour (New Zealand)
| New Zealand Young Labour | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President (Acting) | Kim Tanner |
| Secretary | Holly Wallbank |
| Headquarters | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Ideology |
Social democracy, Democratic socialism, Progressivism |
| International affiliation | International Union of Socialist Youth |
| Mother Party | New Zealand Labour Party |
| Website | |
| younglabour.org.nz | |
Young Labour (Māori: Te Rangatahi Reipa, formerly Labour Youth) is an official sector of the New Zealand Labour Party. All New Zealand Labour Party members aged 15 to 26 are members of Young Labour.
Description
Young Labour is the most active sector in the Labour Party and plays a significant role in policy development and campaign efforts. It is often called the 'conscience of the party'. Young Labour has worked on issues ranging from climate change and improved rental housing standards to liquor law reform and to opposing Voluntary Student Membership.
Although Young Labour is not an organisation which necessarily leads to a political career in Parliament, many of the Fifth Labour Government's Cabinet, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Labour Party leader Phil Goff began their political activism in Young Labour.
Activities
Conference
The Young Labour Conference, held annually and doubling as the sector's Annual General Meeting, is the highest decision-making body of Young Labour. It elects the Executive, alters the Constitution and decides the sector's policy priorities for the current year.[1] The Conference also functions as a social and activism highlight on the Young Labour calendar, with addresses from Members of Parliament and activities such as canvassing commonly being a part of the programme.[2]
Policy Priorities
Each year Young Labour selects five policy priorities at its conference. These become the target for Young Labour members to ensure their passage at the Annual Conference of the Labour Party. These are advanced by Young Labour members playing an active role in debates at the Regional and Annual Conferences of the Party. In addition, Young Labour elects a representative to the Party's Policy Council who plays a role in ensuring Young Labour members' policy ideas are heard in the party.
Campaigns
Young Labour is an important part of the Labour Party's volunteer base at national and local elections. Young Labour members are involved in canvassing, election-day volunteering, and campaign managing across the country. Young Labour also runs public campaigns on certain political or policy issues that the sector deems important to young people. In addition, Young Labour runs an annual Campaign Leadership School to train members in the skills of executing successful political campaigns, and a Summer School (open to the wider party) to have discussions and workshops on the wider direction of Labour in government and in opposition.[3][4]
Clarion Tour
In the week preceding Summer School, a group of Young Labour members travel to cities around New Zealand on a volunteer community service tour. Members play a role in assisting and highlighting the work that volunteer community groups play in New Zealand society by providing a day or half-day's labour at each organisation.[5]
Structure
Executive
The Young Labour executive is elected annually at the Young Labour Conference and members come from all over New Zealand. The current executive members and their contact details are displayed on the Young Labour website.
Regions and Branches
In line with the organisation of the wider Labour Party, Young Labour is organised into six geographical regions for the purposes of campaigns and policy debate.[6]
Within these regions, the primary unit of organisation are a number of Special Branches or Youth Branches of the Labour Party. Some, like Princes Street Labour and Vic Labour are based around universities, whereas others like Waikato Young Labour are based in regional centres. There are also branches catering for Maori, Pacific Islander or teenage members of the sector.[7]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Constitution - Young Labour Young Labour website. Accessed 18/06/2013.
- ↑ YL Conference - Young Labour, Young Labour website. Accessed 18/06/2013.
- ↑ Campaign Leadership School - Young Labour Young Labour website. Accessed 18/06/2013.
- ↑ Summer School - Young Labour Young Labour website Accessed 18/06/2013.
- ↑ Clarion Tour - Young Labour Young Labour website. Accessed 18/06/2013.
- ↑ Regions - Young Labour Young Labour website. Accessed 18/06/2013.
- ↑ Branches - Young Labour Young Labour website. Accessed 18/06/2013.