Tauranga Girls' College student Emily McCarthy's university budget is boosted by $2000 after winning the pize she takes for winning the 2013 Youth Parliament New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust Prize Competition.

Emily's winning essay on the topic, 'Why does Youth Parliament Matter.” was judged on creativity, originality, and how well she answered the question.

Emily McCarthy with fellow Youth MP Mungo Mason, meeting Simon Bridges, John Key and Tony Ryall.

Emily says what she got out of Youth Parliament is an understanding of it how it's important to develop tomorrow's leaders, to ensure that people become consistent voters and understand the political system.

'It's also important so that people look outside of themselves and think about the community around themselves, as opposed to just their own opinions and their own life.”

Emily is a youth MP, one of 121 people selected by sitting MPs in July to go Wellington to learn about Parliament, taking part in a mock Question Time, select committee deliberations and Parliamentary debate. Emily represents Bay of Plenty MP Hon Tony Ryall.

Emily was presented with her award today by the Speaker of the House, David Carter, receiving $2000 towards her future studies.

Also at the presentation were Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, standing in for Tony Ryall, and Sir John Goulter, Chair of the NZ Business and Parliament Trust.

'I went along to give her a bit of a local friendly face,” says Simon. 'She should be very proud of herself. She's beaten competition from all round NZ and judged by the panel as the best youth MP. There were youth MPs from all over, and a Tauranga girl won it, and good on her.”

Mary won out of 50 entries. Second was a student from Wellington Central and third a student from Auckland says Simon.

The judges were The Speaker, Sir John Goulter, Clerk of the House Mary Harris, and a cople of MPs.

Youth Parliament is been held every three to four years since 1994. It's been supported by the Trust since 1997.