1179 days ago

Poll: Should our voting age be lowered to 16?

Ashleigh Ogden from Neighbourly.co.nz

On Monday, 21 November, the Supreme Court ruled that preventing 16 and 17-year-olds from voting is 'unjustified age discrimination'.

The current age of voting is 18 in New Zealand and lobby group Make It 16 have been running a youth-led campaign advocating for the vote to be extended to our 16 and 17-year-olds.

“This is history,” said Make It 16 co-director Caeden Tipler. “Today New Zealand’s highest court has confirmed that stopping young people from voting is a breach of our human rights...The government and Parliament cannot ignore such a clear legal and moral message. They must let us vote.”

Share your thoughts below - these may be published in the We Say You Say column of the local papers.

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Should our voting age be lowered to 16?
  • 13.9% Yes - they should be allowed to vote
    13.9% Complete
  • 3.7% Maybe - I need more information
    3.7% Complete
  • 3.2% It doesn't bother me either way
    3.2% Complete
  • 79.2% No - I don't agree with this
    79.2% Complete
3337 votes
More messages from your neighbours
19 hours ago

Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙

One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.

So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?

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Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
  • 60.1% Yes, supporting people is important!
    60.1% Complete
  • 23.4% No, individuals should take responsibility
    23.4% Complete
  • 16.5% ... It is complicated
    16.5% Complete
278 votes
2 hours ago

Hamilton woman’s $50 flax roses are helping her family get by

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Marama Wade sits outside her River Rd home selling harakeke roses for $50, trying to keep food on the table and the rent paid.

The 54-year-old said the reason she’s out there is simple, especially with Valentine’s Day approaching.

“We’re broke. The reality is life is hard.”

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4 hours ago

Derelict Tokanui Hospital site in line for a clean-up

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Derelict Tokanui Hospital buildings will be demolished and contaminated land cleaned up so the site can be offered back to iwi.

The former psychiatric hospital, southeast of Te Awamutu, sits on land taken from Ngāti Maniapoto under the Public Works Act in 1910.

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