Youth voice – Your voice, your vote 

When you think about home, what comes to mind? For many of us on the Coast, it’s walking along Ōrewa Beach, playing sport at the local reserve, grabbing a coffee at a familiar café, or catching up with friends at the skatepark. The Coast is where we live, work, and play. This month, it’s also ours to shape.

Every three years, we have the chance to take part in something that might not sound exciting at first, but carries real weight. And that is local body elections. This is when we, as a community, choose who will represent us and make the decisions that shape our everyday lives.

Local boards and councils influence more than most people realise. They determine how our parks, playgrounds, and sports fields are maintained, how easy it is to get around on foot, bike, bus, or car, how our beaches and reserves are cared for, where housing and businesses can grow, and which community groups receive support. They also decide how much we all contribute through rates. In short, the people we elect have a direct hand in shaping what the Coast will look and feel like in the years to come.

Despite this, voter turnout in local elections is low. Only around 35 percent of eligible voters take part, compared with 77 percent in general elections. That means fewer than half of us are influencing decisions that affect us all. It’s a missed opportunity, especially considering how much local choices matter.

Take Ōrewa Beach, for example. There are ongoing discussions about its future, whether that involves the layout of courts and pathways, the balance of trees and carparks, or how people connect with the sand and sea. The decisions made today will impact how we and future generations enjoy that space for decades to come.

At its heart, politics is about how resources are shared: Who gets what? Where does the money go? Which priorities come first? By voting, we help decide who we trust to guide these choices. And character matters, if not more than competence. We need leaders with courage to make tough calls, compassion to listen to those most affected, compelling vision for the kind of Coast we want to grow, and commitment to see it through. When I asked some Gen Zers what makes a good politician, one said: “Someone who sticks to their convictions, critically analyses issues from all angles, and is not blinded by ideology.” Another added, “We need grace, decorum, intellect, and consensus at the centre.”

Local leadership, at its best, is not about power but about service. Every vote we cast is a chance to back people who will advocate, listen, and serve our community well. So if you’re eligible to vote, don’t sit this one out. Make an informed vote and know your voice matters. Every tick on the ballot paper helps write the story of the Coast’s future.