Brian Rudman: Political recruitment starts at the school gate

Since the election, Labour has been basking in its success in turning out the brown vote in South Auckland. It was the increased vote in seats such as Mangere and Maungakiekie, that counter-balanced any fall off in support elsewhere in the country, and ensured the narrow victory.

Labour's promise to abolish interest on student loans seems to have paid off too, and not just with tertiary students. Auckland City's Kids Voting programme, in which nearly 4500 students from 30 schools took part in a simultaneous mock election, suggests there was a trickle down effect on voters-to-be as well.

Youngsters from schools across the city council area returned Labour with 47 per cent of their vote (compared with 43 per cent of actual voters in Auckland City electorates), with National trailing on 27 per cent (37 per cent in the actual election).

Labour says its clear victory in the count of special votes at the general election - 44 per cent to National's 34 per cent - was a good indication that its targeted enrolment of students had worked.

Auckland City's mock poll suggests that in readiness for the next election, it might pay for Helen Clark and her team to start recruiting at the school gate.

And not just in the Prime Minister's home turf of Mt Albert where the loyal students of St Joseph's Primary gave Labour 91 per cent, to National's 2 per cent, and Avondale College kids gave Labour 52 per cent to National's 21 per cent.

Even in the Tory heartland, Epsom Girls Grammar gave Labour 37 per cent, to National's 31 per cent and Act's 6 per cent; and Remuera Intermediate gave Labour 42 per cent to National's 39 per cent.

But the revolution in these blue-blooded parts is admittedly patchy. Only 11 per cent of the girls voting at Diocesan School succumbed to Labour's charms, 68 per cent going with National instead, and it was a similar story at Victoria Avenue Primary, with Labour capturing 19 per cent to National's 67 per cent.

Auckland City's electoral officer Dale Ofsoske says the results show that students and adults voted roughly the same way.

"There was probably a lot of discussion about the election around the dinner table," he said.

"It's clear when you look at the electorate break-downs that the students' votes basically mirrored their parents' voting patterns."

There are quirks though, that I suspect no parent would want to put their hand up to passing on.

Like the 19 per cent vote for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party at Dilworth School - only 1 percentage point off National's 20 per cent.

What would old alumni such as Mike Moore, Mike Bassett and Sir David Beattie make of it.

The cannabis party did well above average also with 13 per cent, at Carey College, which declares itself a family-based Christian School, "helping parents nurture the next generation for Christ".

But I'm sure the kids responsible must have been jesting. The more serious minded gave Labour zero support at this school, compared with National's 69 per cent.

Grey Lynn School, perhaps reflecting its environment, gave 9 per cent to the cannabis party, zero to National, 57 per cent to Labour and a large 35 per cent to the Greens. My old alma mater Mt Roskill Grammar also revealed a certain liking for the weed, with a 7 per cent vote.

If Labour wanted to refine its search for future voters, young and Catholic would seem a fruitful place to start. St Joseph's Primary's 91 per cent support for Labour is way out in front, but many other catholic schools are not that far behind, with St Paul's College, scoring 72 per cent, Christ the King School, Mt Roskill, 74 per cent, Marist College, Mt Albert, 46 per cent, and Marist School, Mt Albert, 45 per cent. Only St Ignatius School in St Heliers bucked the trend, with 19 per cent for Labour versus 54 per cent for National.

Other religious schools were less Labour inclined, particularly the fundamentalist Christian ones, but also Jewish Kadimah College, which recorded just 18 per cent for Labour versus 65 per cent for National.

Labour did poorly at the Mt Richmond Special School also, with just 14 per cent, but National, with 43 per cent and New Zealand First with 29 per cent, excelled.