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Tairāwhiti news digest: East Coast youth MP sought, Silver Nova cruise ship to make maiden visit

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East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick has put the call out for a young person to represent the community in the 11th Youth Parliament in 2025.

The Youth MP will take part in a four-month programme from April to August.

“The 11th Youth Parliament is happening in 2025 and I’m looking for a passionate, driven young person aged 16 to 18 to represent our community in Parliament,” Kirkpatrick said in a statement.

“You will engage with our community, connect with other like-minded youth MPs and prepare to make your voice heard at the two-day Youth Parliament event in Wellington.”

Kirkpatrick will run an information session in Gisborne and others in Eastern Bay of Plenty in February and asks people interested in signing up or finding out more to email her at Dana.Kirkpatrickmp@Parliament.govt.nz

“Or if you want to dive right in, then send me a short video – three minutes maximum – and tell me why you should be the youth MP for East Coast.

“Tell me why you are passionate about representing our community and the issues that are important.

“This is the chance to develop leadership skills, grow confidence and help shape the future of New Zealand.”

Applications close at noon on February 28.

‘Environmentally friendly’ cruise ship on first Gisborne visit

Gisborne’s cruise season continues on Friday with a maiden visit by the “environmentally friendly” Silver Nova.

The ship was scheduled to visit the region mid-December but it was cancelled as sea conditions were not suitable to anchor.

Conditions for Friday “look good”, a shipping agent told the Gisborne Herald yesterday.

The Silver Nova has a passenger capacity of 728 and is the sister ship to the Silver Muse, which visited Gisborne earlier in the season.

“Many of the 650 passengers on board now will come ashore,” the shipping agent said.

“A busy programme of excursions has been organised for them.”

At 244 metres in length and with a gross tonnage of 54,700, the luxury liner Silver Nova was launched in 2023 and is the 12th ship in service with Silversea Cruises.

“Nova is the first ship in the company’s new Evolution class and is designed with the intent of environmentally friendly cruising,” the company says online.

“The ship features hybrid technology that enables the ship to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to achieve an Energy Efficiency Design Index rating approximately 25% better than applicable International Maritime Organisation requirements.”

The Seabourn Quest makes her maiden visit to Gisborne on Sunday.


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