Adams Paul: General Debates 
Adams Paul: General Debates 
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PAUL ADAMS (United Future) 
: 
 This week we have celebrated the 150th anniversary of this House of Representatives. As part of the celebration later on this year in the month of August we will be gathering the youth of this country together for what is known as the Youth Parliament. Earlier this year I was asked to be on a panel of three judges to judge eight young finalists who were going to represent me. Two things that they spoke on stood out as I heard them make 5-minute speeches. First I was impressed with the qualities and the abilities of the youth of this nation. I believe that they are outstanding. They all spoke with passion they all had a heart for this nation and they had a desire to work alongside others to build a better New Zealand. 
Second these young people came from a variety of backgrounds. Some came from traditional homes some came from broken homes but there was a common thread that ran through all of their 5-minute speeches that I would like to take this opportunity to pick up and focus on today because I believe that it is important for this House to hear. It was: where are our boundaries and our guidelines? It was not about asking where were the rules and regulations; it was about boundaries and guidelines. Clear boundaries and guidelines are an essential part of freedom. 
Many would know that I am a petrolhead. Nothing gives me a greater kick than travelling in my rally car at speeds of up to 200 kilometres an hour on a loose gravel closed public road. It is exhilarating. On the other hand I have also experienced the pain of leaving that fine road at great speed entering a deep ravine and coming to a sudden stop. There is an incredible amount of freedom in a car as long as it stays on the road. Once it loses the road it has lost its freedom. Many members may not have experienced something as dramatic as that yet I know that many of them would have driven around a corner experienced sun strike found suddenly that the road ahead can no longer be seen and not really known where they were going. Or perhaps members may have experienced a dark night when it is raining and hard to see and driven around a corner to find they are facing a car’s headlights making it impossible to see. We know that pilots fly on flight paths and that as long as they maintain them everything is safe. 
These youth were consistently asking as they spoke on a wide variety of topics where the boundaries were where they should walk how far they should go what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. I really felt that they were saying to us: “If you really loved us you would let us know.” Many had had dreams that adults through their actions had shattered and they wondered whether it was safe to dream again. These ones had chosen to dream again because the alternative was not worth contemplating. I believe that as legislators we have an obligation to inspire the dreams of our young people and give them a clear pathway to follow. The current influx of liberal legislation will be rejected out of hand by the up and coming conservative younger generation who have woken up to the fact that much of what they were taught as being right has been proven by the experiences in their own life to be wrong. Many are now choosing chastity over promiscuity and are discovering that the rewards for a little discipline far outweigh any fleeting moment of pleasure. This should be encouraged as it is the right path to follow. This Government is beginning to feel the pressure of ignoring conservative New Zealanders for too long and it ignores the warnings that are there at its peril. 
 I conclude by saying that there is nothing wrong with our youth but as in Auckland it is time to pay far more attention to the roads we are building. Put the wrong road in front of our current youth and they will reject it out of hand. They have been told what to think for too long. But there is now a generation arising that has found out how to think so we should watch out because they know and appreciate the importance of a proper and correct foundation. They are looking for a good road a clear pathway to follow. I believe that for too long we as legislators have given them a wide range of alternatives. They have had to go down some wrong roads. They have known what it is to feel the pain of wrong decisions. I believe that we as legislators need to stand here in a place like this to give them clear directions to show them the right roadway the right pathway and I believe—just wait and see—that we will see a generation that will turn this nation round for good.