The beehive reports that Youth Minister Nikki Kaye was pleased to address the opening of the four-day UN Youth Declaration in Auckland a couple of days ago.

“This is a great opportunity for young people to have a say on matters that are important to them, and for their voice to be heard,” says Ms Kaye.

“Great”, I thought, “Nikki is going to be inspiring these kids with a few messages based around the national Party’s famous founding principles”, to wit-

“To promote good citizenship and self-reliance; to combat communism and socialism; to maintain freedom of contract; to encourage private enterprise; to safeguard individual rights and the privilege of ownership; to oppose interference by the State in business, and State control of industry”.

So what was the message Nikki conveyed to these eager young future bureaucrats and politicians? What was the important stuff??

“bullying, pressures on young people, youth suicide and mental health. Some initiatives that have happened include a bullying prevention guide for schools, a youth crime action plan, a self-help, e-therapy tool to help young people combat depression and anxiety, and cross-agency work to address family and sexual violence.

I’ve committed to sharing this year’s declaration with my colleagues and making sure it’s passed on to officials within our ministries.

“Events such as the declaration are an important way to help develop tomorrow’s leaders, and enable the views of young people to be reflected in policy-making.”

Whoops…!! I was wrong again. Nikki had much more important issues on her mind and that she wished to awaken these youth to.