Mixed reception in Rotorua to debate on lowering voting age to 16 (+video)

There's been a mixed reception in Rotorua to a call to have the voting age lowered to 16.

Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft said New Zealand should consider changing the voting age to 16, saying it could help with voter engagement and while 16-year-olds could drive, get a job and get married, they could also have a say in their own futures.

While most countries have 18 as the voting age Austria, Scotland, Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador have legislated to allow 16-year-olds to vote.

Rotorua Lakes Council people portfolio leader Tania Tapsell said she would support the move, saying it's something that should be considered seriously.

"There are a lot of very independent 16-year-olds who work and are active in their community; I think they should be able to have their say.

"Legally, they are allowed to do a lot of other things, so I think they are mature enough.

"At the moment they are effectively silenced in decisions that affect their future.

"You can't talk about the future without talking to young people, because it's their future that we're talking about," Ms Tapsell said.

Rotorua Boys' High School Year 13 dean Rhonda Mudge said there were a lot of boys who were politically aware and would love to have their say.

"I think it would be beneficial and overcome some of the difficulties we have getting young people enrolling to vote," she said.

The school's head boy, Rehua Selwyn, 16, said there was enough on the average student's plate to worry about without voting, like getting a driving licence and doing NCEA work.

"As a 16-year-old you are heavily influenced by your parents and you'd vote for whoever they voted for."

Deputy head boy Nathan Kenah, 16, said he would like the opportunity to vote.

"It all impacts on our future . . . even if you are 18 after the election you still have to wait almost another three years to vote," he said.

Rotorua's politicians said they had not formally discussed the issue with their respective parties.

But Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said his party welcomed any initiative to increase youth voting and participation by Maori in general.

MP Todd McClay said it had not been raised with him but "a more pressing issue is youth voter turnout and how we can get younger people to recognise the importance of having their say".

New Zealand First list MP Fletcher Tabuteau and Labour Party candidate for Rotorua Ben Sandford said they had not discussed the issue with their colleagues, but would be doing so in future.