# Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns grow

> Youth advocates push rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns rise.
- Title: Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote as homelessness…
- Summary: Youth advocates push rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns rise. Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns grow.
- Keywords: rangatahi, homelessness, youth, voting, māori, political parties, new zealand, politics, news, advocates, urge, vote
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1860476/youth-advocates-urge-rangatahi-to-vote-as-homelessness-concerns-grow
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-12T02:44:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rangatahi, homelessness, youth, voting, māori, political parties, new zealand, politics, news
## Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote
Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns grow.
## Only 62% of 18-24-year-olds enrolled
Only 62 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds are currently enrolled to vote for this year's general election.
## Māori youth enrollment even lower
Only 50 percent of rangatahi Māori are enrolled to vote for this year's general election.
## Platinum on youth voting
Twenty-year-old youth advocate Platinum says young people need to pay attention to party policies, particularly those affecting housing and vulnerable youth.
## Homelessness affects young people
More than half of people experiencing homelessness in New Zealand are under the age of 24.
## Māori disproportionately impacted
Māori are disproportionately impacted by homelessness, with over 28.8 percent of people experiencing homelessness having Māori whakapapa.
## World Homeless Day activation
World Homeless Day 2026 activation in West Auckland brought together housing and youth services for free services including hair cuts, kai packs, clothing and health checks.
## Key takeaway

Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns grow.