Natalie Bridges: Don't let your voice go unheard

Being open about our political convictions can be scary, but it is rewarding.

General Elections are a fascinating time for me. Not just because I'm married to a politician, but because I've always been interested in the people and process that run a country.

It amazes me how many people say they're not into politics and blame it on the politicians and their so-called antics. It's a shame that so many antics occur, or at least are portrayed in the media that way. But it shouldn't detract from our responsibility to know something about the politics that run the place.

Women are particularly guilty of shying away from politics in my view; as though it's irrelevant or just "not for them". Well, it's for all of us.

It's what makes this country tick and lots of decisions are made indirectly, and in so many cases directly, for you because of it. So it's simple: if you are not engaged, you are not informed about things that will affect you personally, and if you are not informed then you are not in control.

I wear the colours with pride and am happy to go out waving signs for the cause, but it astonishes me how many women can't understand how I can do that - how I can put myself out there and show that I believe in something - and that's whether they support the same particular party or not.

I've always thought it's better to believe in something than believe in nothing. We need to feel free to stand up, and not go with the crowd or the zeitgeist that says it's "cooler" or easier not to.

Yes, my husband is a politician, but these views are entirely my own. I was one of two girls in my year at senior school in Coventry (we were about 14) who would get permission to stay in a classroom on Budget Day and listen to it being delivered live on the radio. At 14, we felt part of a bigger story, one that was shaping the future.

So, my heart sank the other day to see what I believe is a belittling of the election in this fine city. Amongst election signs, Astrolabe has erected its own spoof election signs. They simply encourage people to "Vote party".

If life is only about partying, drinking and living it up, we may as well all give up now I reckon. Surely there's much more to it than that? I can see we're a long way off taking politics seriously while campaigns such as that mock the process.

I enjoy a good sense of humour, but to me, some things should be treated with more decorum, and democracy and our decisions around elections are among those things. I come back to the point about politicians and the "antics" of which many are saying they're sick of.

We can debate until the cows come home whether that's the real story or whether a number of factors such as media and everything else has a part to play in its prominence. But it's not the whole story.

I don't know of a single politician in any party who goes into politics for the "antics". They are mostly noble people, in my opinion, who are willing to put their egos and lives aside because they believe in New Zealand and believe their vision for its future is the right one.

They have very little spare time, often at the sacrifice of their friends and family (now I am speaking as the wife of a politician), and they live and breathe it because they believe in their calling to make a difference .

So, when I also see vandalism of election signs, I think of those politicians who've been hard at it erecting them with the volunteers who support them.

I also repeatedly hear this line about election signs as "visual pollution". To me, they represent freedom and democracy. I love to see them because of everything they stand for beyond the immediate politics. We're lucky to live where we can vote, have our say and freely debate such matters. It's a shame more of us don't take advantage of that freedom.

There's an unspoken rule about never discussing politics. I say let's break that rule and start talking. Going out waving political signs and aligning with a party isn't for everyone. But if we start talking we may all just find we have something in common - passion for New Zealand.