My Account
Auckland Council will express its opposition to lowering the voting age in its submission to central Government – a position supported by both Albany Ward Councillors.
At the Planning, Environment and Parks committee on February 9, a divisive chair’s recommendation that Council’s submission should support lowering the voting age, ended up being reversed.
Central Government began drafting legislation to lower the voting age after a Supreme Court judgement deemed NZ’s current voting age was discriminatory.
Cr Wayne Walker said it was important to note that there is an absence of civics education in NZ schools.
“Contrast that with what occurs in other areas, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom,” Cr Walker said.
The type of things covered by this type of education are knowledge of NZ citizens’ rights and duties, civic processes (such as how laws are made), how voting works and dealing with government agencies.
Cr Walker said civics education was important to consider first and foremost when it came to lowering the voting age.
On the other hand, Cr Shane Henderson said he has not yet heard any good arguments against lowering the voting age.
“We do not test voters on their knowledge of the council, or the candidates, or how anything works around here,” Cr Henderson said. “We do not give people ‘worthy voter tests’ – we just allow them to vote.”
He said 16-year-olds have “the most skin in the game” of anyone with the impacts of climate change and that council should lead in supporting the issue.
Six committee members voted in favour of supporting lowering the voting age and nine voted against it. Albany Ward Councillors Wayne Walker and John Watson were among those in opposition.
