Politics, NZ Election ‘23

We are in the midst of the NZ Election, a race to see which one of the Chris’s will be the Prime Minister for the next 3 year term.

I enjoy watching the live election coverage on election day but besides that I really don’t have a clue what’s going on. Anyone else feel like this?

I loved school until High School… I was really struggling to find interest in a majority of the classes I was taking and I wish there had been an ‘adulting’ class on offer. Taxes, politics, housing, executive functioning hacks - I wish I had known I had adhd back then.

What I’m trying to say is that for so many ‘Voting’ can feel overwhelming - what if we make a mistake and the person we vote for is terrible and something bad happens and then it’s “all my fault” - (as if it could be).

There is also the level of organisation it takes to be able to vote. Am I enrolled? I’ve moved house, did I change my address? Where did I put the mail? Am I going to remember to vote? Am I enrolled on the general or Māori roll? I better read up on the parties and candidates before I go vote… I’m so tired, nevermind, my vote won’t make a difference anyway…

You feel me? This is why this week was only the second time I’ve voted in my life. This is the eighth election I’ve been eligible to vote in. How did I manage to vote this year? I made sure I got myself on the Māori roll and updated my details (after missing the last election) which meant I received my Easy Vote card in the mail. To cut through the noise and decide on who to vote for I utilised the Vote Compass tool, this survey showed me which parties (policies) aligned with my own values - big help! When I opened my mail I put my easy vote card straight into my phone wallet so if I found myself near a voting location I would be ready. We happened to have a work event at our local marae and they had a polling booth on site, so I got it done straight away - two ticks, it really is just two ticks. Easiest piece of paperwork I’ve ever done, lol.

Get out there whānau, our voice makes a difference. If you find the thought of it overwhelming see if you can body double with a friend or colleague, don’t be shy to ask.

Nadine Anne Hura (Iti te kupu Blog) - if those with the least wealth and privilege understood how much power they held collectively, and exercised it at the polls the same way a small number of wealthy people exercise it in political donations, their voice really could make a difference.