Online shoppers need protection: Hamilton youth MP

A National MP is set to have his seat in Parliament taken by someone younger and with more hair.

Oliver Wilding, 17, is deputy head student at Hamilton Boys’ High and will represent Hamilton East’s David Bennett at this week’s Youth Parliament.

Established in 1994, Youth Parliament happens every three years to give 121 nationally selected youth MPs an understanding of New Zealand’s parliamentary system through practical select committees and a mock bill debate.

Wilding is part of the commerce select committee that will discuss modern consumerism.

He believes online consumer laws need to be revamped to avoid rogues and traders “taking people for a ride”.

“People need protection from being exploited and from being ripped off, provided with inferior and unsuitable goods and need the same guarantees that consumers have from shopping in a store.

“Although online goods are often cheaper, people still purchase expensive items online, and face losing a lot if they buy wrong.”

Wilding’s comments come as the government looks at adding GST to purchases made from overseas websites.

A mock Electoral Reform Bill will be debated, which proposes reducing the voting age to 17, making voting compulsory, introducing electronic voting system, and extending the parliamentary term to four years.

Wilding says a decision needs to be made that will benefit everyone, not just youth.

“While these suggestions would increase voter numbers, it is important that all voters see the election as something as important as it is, which I believe may not happen if the Electoral Reform Bill was passed as it is.”