# Young Voters Need Political Power

> Young New Zealanders say they lack political education and feel unheard, risking being left out of decisions shaping their futures.
- Title: Young Voters Need Political Power · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: Young New Zealanders say they lack political education and feel unheard, risking being left out of decisions shaping their futures. Young people in New…
- Keywords: young voters, political education, māori voter participation, electoral commission, university of auckland, youth vote, civics education, kura, māori concept, tuakana-teina, politics, news
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1761186/election-2026-do-young-people-understand-the-power-of-the-youth-vote
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-06T03:32:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: young voters, political education, māori voter participation, electoral commission, university of auckland, youth vote, civics education, kura, māori concept, tuakana-teina, politics, news
## Youth Vote Disengagement
Young people feel disconnected from politics due to lack of political education and limited engagement from politicians.

> Baddies vote.
## Enrolment Statistics
As of 1 September, 62.16 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds were enrolled to vote, leaving over 166,000 people off the electoral roll.
## Māori Voter Participation
Only 50.4 percent of rangatahi Māori were enrolled, according to Māori Voter Participation data.
## Political Misconceptions
Politicians often use young people as tools without meaningfully engaging with their concerns.
## Youth Voice Matters
Young people believe their voices count and that voting ensures their future decisions are represented.
## Māori Political Obligation
Rangatahi Māori have an obligation to future generations to make rangatira decisions and be good ancestors.

> We do have an obligation to our mokopuna, to our tamariki, to the generation that is to come.
## Civics Education Gap
New Zealand lacks mandatory civics education, leaving young people unfamiliar with how Parliament works and voting processes.
## Youth-Led Movements
Youth-led movements like climate strikes show young people care about issues affecting their futures.
## Voting as Responsibility
Young people must vote to ensure their voices are heard and decisions shaping their futures are representative.

> We have to stand up and we have to vote because at the end of the day, how do we be good ancestors?
## Enrolment Deadline
Eligible voters must enrol or update their details by midnight on October 25 to vote in the 2026 general election.
## Key takeaway

Young people in New Zealand feel disconnected from politics due to insufficient education and lack of engagement, urging them to vote to ensure their voices are heard.