Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau-Tohitau
Rangatahi around the motu who have turned 18 since the last election in 2020 will be eligible to vote for the first time this year.
RNZ did a vibe check with first time voters - and a teen gutted to miss out on voting by two weeks - to see how they feel about Election 2023.
What do you know about Election 2023?
Napoleon, 22, Auckland: Not that much, just the basics. I know there are two main parties - National and Labour. I see National as the party for the rich and middle class and Labour is like for the lower class. I know the other parties are Māori Party, Green Party and ACT.
Falaniko, 20, Wellington: I'm super interested in politics. I keep up with all the news and politics, the party policies and all the campaign updates and everything.
Gabrielle, 19, Auckland: I know the parties and the party leaders. I know what National, ACT, Labour and the Greens are all proposing to do if they were to get into Parliament. I know how the system of voting works, yeah.
Emma, 17, Levin: Not a lot to be honest. We don't really learn much about what voting is like and stuff like that … I know you go tick a box and whoever gets the most votes becomes our prime minister?
Falaniko is super keen to have his say for the first time this election. Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau-Tohitau
How did you learn about it?
Napoleon: Social media, Tik Tok and TV.
Falaniko: I'm more knowledgeable than the average person because I've taken New Zealand politics courses.
Gabrielle: Just off social media - Instagram. I follow a lot of people who are political I guess and I just read off their opinions and what they have to say about it. I follow some parties.
Emma: I've seen the National Tik Toks. I've had them all over my 'for you' page. It's an interesting take and one way of getting young people, I guess.
Gabrielle is excited to be eligible to vote this year. Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau-Tohitau
What are the biggest issues for you?
Napoleon: Inflation. I want to see more reasonable prices for groceries and gas. More investment into public transport. I would use public transport now but it's not reliable, because there's always delays, not enough carriages during peak hours and there are limited routes. Also I think better public transport would make the daily traffic lighter too.
Falaniko: The first one is to do with turning our cities and towns and urban spaces into higher density spaces with more housing, better pedestrian, cycling and public transport infrastructure. Because I think it will help address our housing crisis and that helps with other issues to do with poverty and addressing homelessness. And second, to help reduce emissions because climate change is something I, and a lot of people my age, really care about.
Gabrielle: Definitely climate change. It's a big worry for me. It affects my people and my culture, the mere existence of my culture. The waters are rising and my home is at risk.
Emma: Climate issues. Going to university - more support for students going from college to university - that would be cool.
Napoleon will be voting for the first time - for himself and his son. Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau-Tohitau
Why is it important that young people's voices are heard in this year's election?
Napoleon: We're the future. I know I'm voting because I want a government that's gonna work for not only me but also my son. I want his future to be full of possibilities. So I'm voting for myself and for him.
Falaniko: We're going to be the future leaders and people running the important systems in our country and we're going to have to deal with long term consequences of policies enacted now. So we need to have a voice, because all of these issues are going to affect us and our children in the long term.
Gabrielle: A lot of these decisions that these politicians are making, they set up the future for us and the life that we have to endure.
Emma: Because we're the future of the country, even though stuff may not be valid to us right now. Everyone should be heard.
Emma will miss out on voting, as she is just shy of 18. Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau-Tohitau
How do you feel about voting for the first time this year?
Napoleon: Growing up it wasn't anything we would talk about at home or at school so when I turned 18, I just didn't see it as that important. But this time I'm excited and nervous. I feel like I'm a part of something big that'll affect everyone's life now and in the future. I feel like someone that looks like me and lives where I do, wouldn't be included in these conversations so that's why I'm taking it seriously now.
Falaniko: I'm super excited to vote for the first time and to encourage all my friends to get out and vote too.
Gabrielle: Yes! I'm excited! I've been waiting to finally be legal to vote.
Emma: I can't and I'm gutted. I'm a couple of weeks off!
Your preferred prime minister out of all the NZ influencers you know?
Napoleon: I would wanna see Shaun Johnson as prime minister because if he can get us into the finals, he can get us anywhere. Up the Wahs!
Falaniko: We'll go with Shaun Johnson. Up the Wahs!
Gabrielle: I've been following Tamatha Paul. I'd like she to see what she'd be like in that seat.
Emma: Kat Clark? She's Australian … I love her vibe. I feel like I'd do what she said.
Stay up to date with Checkpoint's live election night special with Lisa Owen, Corin Dann, Jane Patterson and reporters around the country from 7pm to midnight on Saturday, running alongside live data and blogging with electorate and party vote results on RNZ's website. RNZ Asia will also be running its own live blog in Chinese.
实时更新报道， 尽在RNZ中文！ 本周六下午5点起，以中文实时追踪2023年新西兰大选。各党票数、全国选情 、计票进展与最终结果，第一手资讯尽在 www.rnz.co.nz/chinese，本周六，我们与您一同关注大选。
Then on Sunday, stay tuned for the Morning Report special from 8am to 10am, examining the results, the drama, and the changes from the night before: with polls this close, exactly who's in government will likely come down to negotiations.
