Students picked for press gallery

Alexander Goldsmith and Jamie Regan will be in the Youth Press Gallery. Photo / George Novak

Not many teenagers experience the cut-throat life-style of the parliamentary press gallery, but two Tauranga students have been selected to be part of the Youth Press Gallery next year.

Jamie Regan, a 16-year-old Aquinas student, and 18-year-old Alexander Goldsmith, a recent graduate of Mount Maunganui College were chosen to be two of 17 press gallery reporters from around New Zealand.

Mr Goldsmith and Mr Regan were both excited about the event next July.

"I heard about Youth Parliament and I thought it would be an awesome opportunity," Mr Goldsmith said.

Mr Regan agreed.

"The whole thing sounds interesting and quite an important event, and it just would be really good to do in terms of my career and general aspirations," he said.

Both were chosen by submitting opinion pieces and written work, which was then assessed and chosen by the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

The Youth Press Gallery is a joint initiative with Youth Parliament, and they will be covering the activities of the Youth MPs.

Mr Goldsmith and Mr Regan would be reporting on Bay teens Hugo Thompson and Grahame Woods from Tauranga Boys' College who were selected by MPs Simon Bridges and Todd Muller.

Minister for Youth Affairs Nikki Kaye said the aspiring political journalists would have the opportunity to hold a six-month tenure.

"During this time they will provide updates of the Youth MPs' activity in their communities," Ms Kaye said. Youth Parliament and the Youth Press Gallery are on July 19 and 20 next year.

Mr Goldsmith and Mr Regan will attend a workshop early next year in Rotorua to prepare for the event.

Mr Goldsmith will be working over summer before he starts a Bachelor of Communications at Auckland University of Technology. Mr Regan became more interested in politics the last few months, but would prefer to be on the reporting side of Parliament.