Dear Ministry of Social Development,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I seek the following information held by the Ministry of Youth Development (Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi), administered within MSD:

1. All email communications from MYD’s Youth Parliament Project Team sent to Youth MPs between 1 April and 2 July 2025 whose subject lines include “Changes required” (or similar wording) that advised removals or edits regarding:

-Criticism of ministers or government,

-Politically sensitive themes (e.g. pay equity, climate, Treaty Principles Bill, voting rights, freedom of expression),

-Concerns about defamation, political neutrality, or non-partisanship.

2. Internal guidance, memos, or policy documents that informed or justified these communications.

3. Any correspondence relating to the decision not to livestream Youth Parliament debates or to restrict public access to recordings.

Given the strong public interest in protecting rangatahi democratic participation, I ask for minimal redactions, justified by reference to the Act if necessary.

Yours faithfully,

Lance D. Lavery