Why the young feel alienated from local body elections

Why are young people so alienated from politics?

Eighteen to 24-year-olds are the least likely age-group to vote in the local body elections, says the Auckland Council.

Only 54 per cent said they intended to vote, compared with a whopping 96 per cent of those 65 and older.

So what is creating a generation of apathetic youth?

Victoria University Students’ Association president Jonathan Gee reckons there is a lack of awareness of the impact voting can have.

“People don’t understand they can effect change through their votes.

“For students the main issues are being able to catch the bus to get to class, and getting sick because they live in cold and damp flats and missing classes . . . Making students aware that council can do something about those clear and simple issues is the key really.”

He said the transient nature of the student population meant they often felt disengaged from the city they studied in. More young people standing for council positions would also create more interest in local body elections, Gee said.

“It’s a case of out of sight, out of mind. We need more young representation at the council table.”

Massey University Students’ Association president Nikita Skipper said she did not see anyone in local politics who inspired her to vote.

“I don’t see people I can relate with. I’m often left feeling that the youth voice is seen as a minority voice because the majority of us don’t own houses or businesses.”

She echoed the call for more young candidates.

Rodney Local Board candidate Tessa Berger, 22, is one young person who has put her hand up for election.

She said disengagement among the young was a “worldwide trend”.

“Our great-grandparents saw women get the vote, and they took the right to vote extremely seriously. But over time, voting has increasingly been taken for granted, and politics has been captured by big business, leaving voters feeling helpless to make meaningful change.”

She said her age was her “best asset”. “If we want to inspire the next generation, we need to change the way we engage with our young people. If this is to be at all successful, it can only be led by us.”

Auckland Council and Howick Local Board candidate Olivia Montgomery, 20, said a lot of her peers did not understand the local body structure.

“For example, people don’t know

I don’t see people I can relate with.

the difference between local boards and council . . . They feel really disconnected from the process.

“The average age of an Aucklander is 33, yet our politicians are generally a lot older. There’s a major underrepresentation of young people.”

First-time voters were unaware of the candidates but concerned about issues such as public transport.

Hugh Paterson, 20, said public transport was “frustrating”, and “no one seems to be doing anything”.

Daniel Wist, 25, didn’t know what could be gained from voting.

“They should be teaching that kind of thing in school. I’ve never been told . . . about what they get up to.”

Nikita Skipper Massey student president