Youth MPs spending two days at Parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday were joined by a youth press gallery, which covered select committees, legislative debates, and even question time with real government ministers.
Yvette McCullough and Ryan Bridge, who are embarking on careers as broadcast journalists, were mentored by Radio New Zealand's press gallery journalists during the Youth Parliament.
Here's a selection of their stories.
'Clean and green' for the Rugby World Cup
Members of the Youth Parliament have suggested working with all regions of New Zealand to capitalise on the country's green image for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
The Local Government and Environment select committee discussed the best way to ensure visitors to the tournament leave with the image of New Zealand as clean and pure, intact.
The committee decided the focus should not just be on the regions hosting games, because all of New Zealand is likely to be on show.
One recommendation is for the Government to work with local authorities to ensure they follow suitable environmental practices during the tournament.
It also recommended the tourism industry should highlight the action it is taking to minimise environmental impacts from the event.
Yvette McCullough
Youth Parliament backs legislation lowering age of majority
The Youth Parliament has passed a Bill to lower the age of majority - when people are considered adults under the law - from 20 to 18.
There were 69 votes in favour, 42 against, and 2 abstentions.
It was argued that holding the age at 20 is archaic and belongs to a completely different time.
Several Youth MPs brought up the fact young people can marry, vote, drink, drive, have sex, or fight for their country at age 18. They argued that a higher age of majority is redundant.
However, other Youth MPs were not as confident that most 18-year-olds are mature enough to be considered adults. They argued for staggering the responsibilities given to young people, and that realism needed to be exercised, not political correctness.
The Minister for Youth Development, Paula Bennett, says she is really interested in the arguments the Youth MPs have made.
She says their opinion is valid and she will be treating their decision as a submission and taking their arguments on board.
Yvette McCullough
Mining raises temperature in Debating Chamber
The topic of mining roused the Youth Parliament during question time today.
The Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee, fielded questions on the economic benefits of mining, and the impact it has on New Zealand's tourism industry.
For the only time during the session, heckling broke out and comments were shouted from all around the chamber. There was also an eruption of applause after the question was read.
Gerry Brownlee responded to the applause by thanking MPs for endorsing such a popular policy. He said mining had actually increased under the last Labour Government, as had tourism, and he told Youth MPs it is possible to have a balance of both.
Mr Brownlee also highlighted the generational gap between him and the youth MPs, saying if they felt so strongly about not mining, "perhaps they should look at giving up their Walkmans ⦠I mean iPods and cellphones."
Yvette McCullough
Speaker delivers views on secondary education
Parliament's Speaker, Lockwood Smith, has weighed into a Youth Parliament debate about education.
Speaking to the Youth Parliament's press gallery, Dr Smith said secondary school students should be taught civics at school.
He said he believes civics should be readily available as a subject, because important decisions are made in Parliament.
Dr Smith says understanding Parliament, power and the policy process is particularly important for young people.
He says any decision on whether schools chose to teach civics would be left to their boards of trustees, but the option should be available to them.
Meanwhile, the Youth Parliament's Education and Science Committee has recommended making entrepreneurship education compulsory for secondary schools.
The committee recommends schools be compelled to offer innovation, finance, and business studies to year nine and ten social studies students. The option would be voluntary for more senior students.
The youth select committee's recommendations will be passed to the real education select committee for MPs' consideration.
Ryan Bridge
