Triennial Secondary School Students’ Essay Competition

The purpose of the triennial secondary school students’ essay competition is to increase young people’s understanding of how New Zealand’s democracy works by gaining knowledge about the structure of government, the legislative process involving Parliament and the Executive and the effects of these on citizens.

The next competition is scheduled to be held in 2026.

In the past the format has been for students to submit an essay of no more than 1500 words on a selected topic.

2023 Topic: “What are the important elements of a successful democracy in New Zealand? Why are they important, does New Zealand currently meet them, and can they be improved?”

NB. There was no competition in 2020.