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Download AudioFormer Ruapehu District councillor Elijah Pue is convinced lowering the voting age to 16 is what Maori need to reverse their apathy about voting in both local body and general elections.
Since the election the 28-year-old from Ohakune’s Ngāti Rangi iwi has become business manager for the largest Māori health provider in the Whanganui DHB area.
He says during his unsuccessful run for the Ruapehu mayoralty he noticed young Maori youth from about 14 to 16 were far more politically engaged than their elders.
“These kids, are civically engaged and willing to engage in the system – and we should be taking the opportunity to teach them at a young age. I say let’s get on with it,” Mr Pue says.
He says despite its problems social media supports political activism – and that’s where the next generation gets its information.
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