NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Dogmocracy: Furry friends make the trip to polling stations

NZ Herald
17 Oct, 2020 05:42 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Bella is 18 and went with her owner to vote today. Photo / Supplied

Bella is 18 and went with her owner to vote today. Photo / Supplied

The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations has taken over Twitter, with voters and their furry friends making the trek to polling stations across the country.

Voters and their pooches have taken to polling stations around the country on what has turned out to be a warm, sunny Saturday.

All breeds of dogs can be seen posing in front of voting signs, including an 18-year-old pooch.

However, dogs are not the only animals to be photographed outside polling stations.

Bella is 18 and very committed to democracy. #nzpol #DogsAtPollingStations #onaroll pic.twitter.com/j2xeEF0b5w

— Annalise Higgins (@AnnaliseRH) October 17, 2020
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

#DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/1wGVTEsooB

— Rick Franklin (@PoxDoc) October 17, 2020

#DogsAtPollingStations #dogsoftwitter pic.twitter.com/WZLyJdmQML

— sputnikbrown (@sputnikbrown) October 17, 2020

Off to vote in #NZHellhole ~ and the lovely volunteer looks after your pooch so you can vote & also so said pooch doesn’t eat any votes - no queues & the best scented hand sanitizer too #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/X6h0NAhZbw

— 𝔖𝔬𝔫𝔦𝔞 🎈 (@SoniaLee) October 17, 2020

Decisions are made by those that turn (p)up.
Mans best friend says Vote! #NZElection2020 #DogsAtPollingStations #nzelections2020 pic.twitter.com/YR61sqv6cl

— Dan Baily (@bailynz) October 17, 2020

Despite the strict rules surrounding what can and can't be talked about on election day, animals at polling stations has lighten up many peoples days.

Today you will find news outlets - and should find social media outlets - largely quiet on the election today.

That's because the law bars anyone from doing anything that could influence votes on election day, over the 19 hours between midnight and 7pm Saturday, when polls close.

Media companies cannot publish political opinions, political advertising and other news stories, tweets or social media posts that could have an influence on voters.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Politicians must ensure they have taken down all election billboards and stop campaigning or doing political walkabouts to win over voters.

They can still chat with ordinary New Zealanders and encourage them to vote - so long as they don't encourage them who to vote for.

The law means Kiwis are able to have a day of quiet to contemplate their voting decision without being bombarded by relentless political messaging.

Media outlets are subsequently left to publish photos of the public and politicians at voting booths and provide articles containing only general voting information.

It also means photos of cute dogs visiting voting booths are a go-to for news outlets.

The hashtag #PetsAtPollingStations has also proven to be a hit on twitter.

With voters sharing photos of animals from all walks of life - including chickens and a cat.

We voted! #DogsAtPollingStations #WaitWhat #PetsAtPollingStations #VoteNZ pic.twitter.com/iTFTQ5ZSh4

— Dr Katie Collins (@ktecollins) October 17, 2020

In the tradition of getting weird looks on election day, Evie became pawlitical #DogsAtPollingStations #CatsAtPollingStations #PetsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/T6ps1G1Npo

— Aimz (@aimzyizzy) October 17, 2020

The Electoral Commission even joined in posting a pic of the orange man and his dog to Twitter. Even taking the opportunity to drop a pun ...

Pup made it to the paw-ling place! #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/wuwropHtWk

— Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri (@ElectoralCommNZ) October 17, 2020
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Premium
Lifestyle

‘I’ve given up asking’: Why so many midlifers are struggling with sexless marriages

16 Jun 11:52 PM
Travel

What the inaugural Jetstar flight from Hamilton to Sydney was really like

16 Jun 08:16 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

Advice: My partner will only sleep with me if I buy her gifts. Am I being used?

16 Jun 06:00 AM

It was just a stopover – 18 months later, they call it home

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

What the inaugural Jetstar flight from Hamilton to Sydney was really like

What the inaugural Jetstar flight from Hamilton to Sydney was really like

16 Jun 08:16 PM

International flights returned to Hamilton for the first time since 2012.

Premium
Advice: My partner will only sleep with me if I buy her gifts. Am I being used?

Advice: My partner will only sleep with me if I buy her gifts. Am I being used?

16 Jun 06:00 AM
How many have you tried? Auckland's new Top 100 Iconic Eats named

How many have you tried? Auckland's new Top 100 Iconic Eats named

16 Jun 04:30 AM
Why Matariki has become one of NZ's most meaningful public holidays

Why Matariki has become one of NZ's most meaningful public holidays

16 Jun 03:37 AM
Sponsored: Embrace the senses
sponsored

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP