Adopt an MP

Following on from the extremely successful Elect Who? campaign last year where we interviewed over 100 election candidates in the lead up to the 2011 election, we’ve decided on an even more ambitious project – Adopt an MP.

Around New Zealand and internationally, youth are under-represented in voting statistics and under-represented in policy.  The desires and visions of young New Zealanders who will inherit the impacts of present policy are often excluded when those policies are created.

Generation Zero’s new project ‘Adopt-an-MP’ will enable young people to directly engage with their Parliamentary Representatives on a long-term basis. The aim of the game is to establish relationships, stimulate positive discussion and directly engage MPs with local and international climate issues and solutions.

Generation Zero will be supported in this venture with members of G-Force – our more experienced counterparts. ‘G-Force’ members are concerned grannies, enthusiastic aunts, and passionate grandpops who are taking part in protecting their mokopuna’s safe climate future.

Meetings between ‘adopters’ and ‘adopted’ will occur every six-weeks. This is an opportunity for MPs and enthusiastic young people to share their thoughts, concerns, and visions for our future and encourage the political momentum needed to create a zero carbon Aotearoa.

At this stage, ‘Adopt-an-MP’ is in pilot mode before its official launch at the end of 2012. ‘Adoptions’ are taking place in Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington and other smaller hubs.

If you (or your older relatives) are interested in getting involved with the MP ‘adoptions’ or have any questions, send them through to our campaign coordinator Maddy at madeleineforeman@gmail.com.