Almost 30 per cent of enrolled voters in Tauranga and Bay of Plenty electorates chose not to exercise their democratic right to vote in this year's general election.
According to preliminary figures posted on the Electoral Commission's website, only 33,405 people of the enrolled 46,449 voted in the Tauranga electorate - meaning 28 per cent did not vote. Of the 45,347 people enrolled to vote in the Bay of Plenty electorate, only 33,038 voted.
Newly elected National Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said participation had sadly declined over the past 20 to 25 years. He said there were new initiatives for advanced voting but that was not enough to get some people to vote. "It's a deeply personal decision and maybe people were just not engaged because of their own situation and circumstances but the key thing is we live in a country where the opportunity is there, with the opportunity not to as well."
NZ First Tauranga MP Clayton Mitchell said he was expecting the largest turn-out for voters for the Tauranga electorate but was disappointed by the number who chose not to take part.
He said it would be good to have about 80 per cent of those eligible voting: "People should be taking more time to get involved with politics and get to know what each party stands for because it makes such a difference to the way people can live their lives."