Are you aged 18+? Have you ever had any interest in politics? Are you registered to vote??
With our national election coming up this November, NOW is the time to start thinking about these things.
Who do YOU want as our next Prime minister? Chris or Chris? What about Winston? Seymour? Chloe? Which political party do your personal views align with? Labour, National, Greens, Te Pāti Māori, ACT, NZ First? Each party has such differing approaches on how to run the country and we have a direct say on who will have that power.
Statistically, young New Zealanders have very little to do with politics. Most young people think, ‘Politics is boring’ or ‘It doesn’t make any difference to me’ or ‘I don’t even know what they do’.
It is time that the younger generation started to realise that the politicians who have been voted into power actually DO have an impact on their day-to-day lives. The decisions they make can really impact YOU. And your future.
Remember, politicians are voted in by the people to serve the people. They are not there to serve their own interests or the interests of their wealthy mates. They are there to serve the needs of the everyday public, you and me, regardless of one’s status, wealth, power or influence.
We should be paying attention to and scrutinising the decisions they are making on our behalf. THEY decide what to spend OUR hard-earned taxpayer dollars on. Those same taxpayer dollars pay their salaries. You know that 20-30% that comes off your pay each week? The government of the day takes those taxpayer funds and spends it on running the country. Do you agree with the way they run the country?
The older generation like to have their say on who is running the country and therefore turn out in large numbers to cast their votes. They seem to have more interest in who is running things. But surely the future government has more of an impact on the younger generation, as they make their way in this world, working towards their careers, starting families, renting/buying houses and growing into mature citizens. The impacts on them are very real.
As New Zealanders, it is our democratic right to vote and we really need to make use of that right. We are able to have our say on who the politicians are that will make decisions that have real impacts on our future. There are several countries where voting is either non-existent or highly restricted to certain demographics. People protest and even die, fighting for their right to vote. We are not one of these countries. We have the right and we should use that right. So get yourself registered and JUST VOTE!
Visit vote.nz to enrol.
Words by Gabriel Johnston
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