A message from Liz Kelly, Te Tumu Whakarae | CEO
Tēnā koutou katoa,
This is my last column before the general election on Saturday 7 November, so I’m going to use it to ask you for one thing. Vote.
I know it’s not top of the list. When you’re in the thick of it, with kids to get to school, a job to get to, bills to pay and Christmas coming up fast, an election can feel like something that happens somewhere else, to other people.
It doesn’t. The people we send to Parliament make decisions that land in every home. An election is our chance, as a community, to wrestle with the future we want and say so.
Who you vote for is your business. It’s not mine, and it’s not the Whānau Centre’s. Vote for the people and the party whose values sit closest to your own. Whoever that is, just make sure you’re in the booth.
One thing has changed this time. You can’t enrol on election day anymore. You need to be enrolled by midnight on Sunday 25 October. Miss that, and you can’t vote in this election.
So, if you’ve moved house, just turned 18, or you’re not sure, check now. It takes a few minutes at vote.nz with your driver licence or passport. Or call 0800 36 76 56, any time of the day or night.
Then ask around. The teenager at your place. The neighbour who moved in last month.
You don’t have to wait for election day either. Voting opens on Monday 26 October, so you can go when it suits you. On the day itself, voting places are open from 9am to 7pm.
Take someone with you.