Columns

The New Zealand general election is fast approaching and there are an abundance of storylines and sideshows regarding it. On 20 September everyone over the age of 18 who is a New Zealand citizen can have a say in whom they believe can represent them in our parliament. As a politics major I often hear questions like “who should I vote for?” and “What’s the point? Nothing changes anyway.” Young people have the worst turnout of all age groups and this is even worse among Māori voters. There are many reasons for this, ranging from apathy to ignorance. We as young people do not want to get involved because we don’t see any direct benefits. This leads to a vicious cycle that leaves the decision making with the baby boomers who look out for themselves and strip us bare because they think we are too lazy/apathetic/ignorant to have our say. To be fair that’s an outright yarn. The system needs to better encourage youth to vote. There is a genuine feeling amongst at least my peers that the current parties and candidates have not earned our vote.

What makes this election interesting is for once the youth vote is actually being targeted. The arrival of the Internet Party and the Internet-Mana alliance, whatever their true motivations, have made a pledge to target youth and the “internet generation.” Their brand of popular appeal backed by celebrities and musicians has certainly captured the attention of the media and it will be interesting to see if that can translate into youth turnout.

So even if there is just one issue that grinds your gears, take a minute to decide who you think will make the biggest impact to bring about change. While John Key and the National Party have a substantial lead, under our MMP system it is still a very tight race. Every vote counts and perhaps this is the opportunity to have your say that could determine who the next government is and how much power they wield. Whether you sit on the right or the left, have your say; it is your right. But if you don’t, just remember that you can’t have a feed if you’re not at the table.
For more information on enrolment and the election head to www.election.org.nz

Te Hau White
Tumuaki Tuarua o Te Roopū Māori
(Vice president of Te Roopu Maori)