KEY POINTS:
Here is a selection of earlier views:
Rhea
The next argument will be, "You can vote at 16, you can drive a car at 16, you can work and be taxed at 16, you can be a parent at 16, we should let 16-year-olds have a beer at the end of the day". I can imagine what kind of electioneering the Greens will embark on if 16-year-olds are given the vote, "No homework for all! Free pizza if you vote for the Greens! We will make mag wheels on cars compulsory! xbox will become a school subject!".
Lisa (Auckland)
The country is run by a bunch of kids in parliament so surely kids should be able to vote?
K.C. Aw (Auckland)
Sue Bradford has to stop wasting taxpayer money with this nonsense again. We are still trying to get a grasp of her anti-smacking bill that was clearly against the general public opinion and now she comes again with another bill. She has to stick to Green's party principles of protecting the environment. Perhaps they are out of Green ideas. The problem with MMP is that small parties with no elected MPs, such as the Greens, holds the government at ransom for their continued support.
Jordan
So according to the Green Party we can't trust 16-year-olds with pies but we can trust them with a vote?
Auckland
Sixteen-year-olds, in general, are no brainers when it comes to politics and the wider world in general. Little wonder Sue Bardford wants them to vote. A vote for Sue Bradford is a no brainer vote. The only votes she can hope to attract are from the brain dead and children who know no better. Roll on the next election when most of these ratbags will be gone.
Elliott
Most 18-year-olds don't know enough about the government to make an educated decision on who run the country, never mind 16-year-olds. Even if they were - I believe it is essential to allow people a few years, once they reach a mature age and start observing politics, before letting them have a say in the matter.
Parents of 16/17 year olds will more than likely already be voting with their children in mind. The Greens have now well and truly lost all confidence I had in them. They try to push one absurd bill after another. Their environmental stand is generally pretty good, but I am not too keen on their social outlook.
Sarah
When is this woman going to give up and get a new job? I mean honestly, someone needs to tell her how ridiculous she is being. First we cant smack our kids now we might as well have a child running the country. Hey, maybe they could do it while driving a car they can't afford to run or have insurance on. And why not let them be drunk and stoned too. If it was up to Sue Bradford, children would have more rights and say over the country than adults would.
Annie (Mt Wellington)
No, the right to vote at 18 is young enough.
Bri (Auckland)
Lower the voting age? Don't be daft! Looking back over my life I couldn't get a drink but I was in the army - So what! I waited and the first one was a milestone to be enjoyed. I could drive but not vote so what I was free of any encumbrances like paying for mortgages etc. Too many people want to buck the system and that is what the Greens and Labours have done. They push their own left wing policies so that they retain power. Get rid of the list MP's - make everyone be voted in! And whilst we are at it reduce the number of the parties in Parliament. By the way, whatever happened to the referendum on this matter? Yeah buried, because it didn't suit them. God Save New New Zealand cos we ain't got any chance of being defended.
Auckland
I think Sue Bradford is just taking things way too overboard now. NZ to allow 16-year-olds the chance to vote? What do you think? That's just out of the question and really ridiculous! They are just not responsible enough, they wouldn't care about what they voting for. It's the same as them not caring if they drink and drive and let alone speeding. Will they be mature enough to get married at 16? No. Having sex at 16? They are going to think it's ok to lose their virginity at that age, take sex as a casual thing. Where will their morals be? If they can't be allowed in clubs, unable to purchase alcohol, get into the army until 17-18yrs old etc, then they shouldn't be able to vote. Simple as that.
Dick (Waiheke Island)
Reality check! Democracy has been hijacked by MMP, which only serves the 'bureaucratic' dictatorship in NZ today. List politicians like Sue Bradford conjure up unpopular social legislation ad nauseum, assisted by self-serving non-elected parliamentary advisors. A bureaucratic plot, to ruin the NZ economy and force unnecessary legislative controls on productive NZ taxpayers? Lowering the voting age to 16 will merely contribute to the decline of our democratic process! Kiwi families are suffering dictatorship, more than enough without further meaningless legislation?
Philip W
Most 16-year-olds would not be at work, and would hopefully still be at school for a final year or two years (or longer). On the basis they are not working, and schooling is say two more years, on what policy are they then going to vote for? Lower Taxes - they are not working for above minimum wage probably, and policy change may take t or more years to implement if its changes to student loans or other educational policy changes. Then, therefore, because "Green" means all things good and wholesome possibly the Greens based on a "feeling" of doing something "nice" for the planet.
Nick
No Way! People at the age of 16 are still under the influence of left wing school teacher brainwashing. Let them grow up first. This is yet another lame brain get-the-marxist's re-elected at any cost campaign mounted by the Greens. When will we finally wake up to these antics and elect a government that has the interests of all at heart, not just the interests of the loony left and the Greens?
Tarun Khurana
No not at all. 16 years is too young to decide. Very bad idea. Sue Bradford comes up with stupid issues every now and then. I think she needs a break.
Carol (Wellington)
If there are disparities in the voting age and marriage age, I'd rather see the marriage age raised to 18. I see no reason to let anyone get married at 16. I think this is a spurious argument for lowering the voting age. Also, I'd be reluctant to see 16-year-olds get the vote as they aren't likely to be autonomous adults (i.e. living on their own, self-supporting, paying taxes and so on). I think there should be a relationship between the right to vote and taking on these adult responsibilities.
Matt Pilott
Wow, a lot of grumpy old people out there. You're a sad bunch. Because Bradford championed a bill to criminalise assault upon children you are against this current proposal by default. Stop being a pack of bitter whiners and judge the bill on its merits. Thankfully our MPs don't vote on bills based on such childish thought processes. You lot are the ones who shouldn't be able to vote, if that's how you treat democracy. It's not a popularity contest. Look at what is good for the people of NZ, not who has annoyed you in the past, because you like to hit children.
Pete
Politics is dirty indeed. The thing about voting is that each vote bears equal weighting from someone who is well informed compared to someone has no clue what they are doing. And if 16-year-olds have a go at it, well, what are the odds that their decisions are well informed?
Robbie (Hey mum!)
Vote! Heck, I only just turned 18 now and finally I can vote, but quite honestly up until now I didn't care who won the elections. "Yea go Greens", "Smoke weed, yeah legal!" was the most common phrase at that age, and you see on TV that it still is! What a stupid idea.
Stu Donovan (Auckland Central)
Three reasons why the bill is a good idea:
1. No taxation without representation.
2. Encourages a sense of individual and social responsibility amongst young people.
3. Sends a signal to young people that society expects them to make informed and independent decisions.
As for most those previous posts opposing the bill, you all seem to be attacking the messenger. Forget about Sue and at least discuss the issues. The bitterness and anger people have displayed on this issue is scary. Are you all crazy?
Hoots
Why do we even give Sue Bradford the time of day? She's an offence to the Kyoto protocol simply by the amount of pollution that comes out of her mouth. What next? Let the sheep vote? All in favour of the Greens say baa! The sooner she's out the more taxpayer money we can save by putting it into something more useful like a drivers licensing system that actually requires you to be able to drive and not get it in your next Weetbix packet.
Matt Scott
I agree with the bill, and I believe that it should be put into place. The civics education that would be introduced to schools would definitely be beneficial to the kids in New Zealand, by making us more aware of our surroundings and teaching us valuable skills for later in life. Civics is taught as a compulsory, or core subject in France, and has been praised. Lowering the voting age to sixteen would also be a smart move in my opinion, as it would encourage teens to think about where they stand in the country. It would put true meaning to New Zealand's status as a democracy, and the point on teens feeling more included and therefore more willing to be responsible adults sooner is also true. Due to the points that I have outlined above, I believe that it would be a very good idea to have this bill put into place.
Phredd
Sue Bradford does nothing right.
Harry L (Waitakere City)
Y'know, when I read comments from people who say that this is the last straw and they are now moving to Australia, I think, "See ya! Bon voyage! Please forget to write!"
Sense (Auckland)
Modern neuroscience established years ago that the human brain is not finished till the early twenties, so our forebears were right when they picked twenty-one. But why let scientific facts get in the way of a politician's brain-dead proposals? A much better idea, Sue B, for all our sakes, would be to *raise* the voting age to one year past whatever age you are. Then you wouldn't be there to muck up our lives with your incessant nonsense. Or, to make that nonsense consistent, restrict voting to those who were never smacked (because they must surely be the only ones who grew up to be perfect citizens).
Penny
If 16-17 year olds are "too immature" to vote then everyone over 65 is too senile to vote. And women shouldn't be allowed to vote because "it's the same as giving married men two votes". Or is it ignorant and discriminatory if I say that?
Del (Waikato)
Politicians act like kids, finger-pointing and name-calling as it is on the playground. So why not? Kindred spirits maybe. Vocal minorities are ruining our way of life. Time for online referendums. If we can get Lotto/TAB results almost instantaneously, why not real issues?
Jo
Just because our kids pay taxes they should vote? I opened a bank account for my child from birth which attracted RWT on interest. Should I have been casting a proxy vote until this child could tick a box? Or what about those overseas investors who pay tax in NZ on their NZ earnings, do they get a vote as well? Spurious logic Sue.
Ron Lopert
I am appalled by the vitriol in some of the postings on this topic. Lowering the voting age to 16 is a topic that merits more serious discussion and not a facile dismissing of it simply because it comes from Sue Bradford. If, as one contributor laments, 16-year-olds are "out of control and immature" then it seems to me that offering them some responsibility and sense of community involvement with a vote will go a small way to redress their aimless alienated behaviour and send them a message that society does value them and their views. I for one know that when I was a 16-year-old (over 30 years ago) I was very interested in politics, and resented some older ill-informed folks casting ill-informed apathy votes when I regarded myself as having a much more responsible, informed and well thought out opinion but didn't have a vote. Do we have to lower the standard of discussion of this issue by personally attacking Sue Bradford? I think she is brave to raise this as an issue when she has suffered such animosity over the Section 59 Repeal legislation. Please deal with the issue not the person.
Le Fox
If Sue Bradford has anything to do with anything, the only thing for sure is it will bring utter chaos. Keep her on a tight leash.
Cal (Auckland)
Relaxing at Sue Bradford's commune for hippies maybe some peoples idea of paradise, but the more we listen to her loosen the belt stance on current laws and policies, the faster our already too PC society will spiral out of control. We seem to have this great ability in this country to empower people into a false sense of self-sufficiency, where life experiences, maturity and respect for others are no longer important. Down with Sue and Helen and bring back first past the post!
Ed
Of course 16-year-olds shouldn't vote! The logic and rationality part of the brain doesn't develop fully until 25, therefore the drinking age should be 25. Why stop there? The smoking, sex and voting ages should be 25, as people can't fully make an informed choice. The minimum age for work and leaving school should be 25 too. So should the age for babysitting, as we can't trust people to make rational judgements until they're 25, so we shouldn't trust them with our kids. It seems people aren't giving kids nearly enough credit. Those who truly don't care simply won't vote, it's not mandatory. Have Nicaragua, Isle of Man or Brazil suffered any ill-effects from lowering the voting age? Voting against this is just another way for the Christian right-wing fascist agenda to dictate the country by manipulating the elderly.
No way
I reckon our politicians need to mature. I have a son who is almost 15, and to be honest I reckon he is not matured enough to drink, nor drive, and of course vote.
The voting age of 18 its fine and should remain at that age. I am personally of the view that even the driving age should be increased to 18, this will help a lot in reducing accidents, speed racers and of course will surely help our police force. Any comments Sue?
Pip
I don't consider myself to be old or over the hill and yet I can remember this very argument being part of my school debates when I was 16. Has nothing changed? Then as now, if we can have sex, drive, die for our country, pay tax, leave school, be for ever tied to the work treadmill and be expected not to break the law at 16 then we should also be allowed to have a say as to who it is that tells us what we should do. 16-year-olds not responsible enough? See above. NZ was the first to give women the vote lets lead the world again and treat our 16 year olds with the respect they deserve. Give them the vote.
Becks (ChristChurch)
Sandy (Te Atatu) - you can't join the armed forces at 15, you must be 17 to join. Reducing the voting age is ridiculous, I was 16 not too long ago so I know what 16-year-olds care about - nothing! That doesn't exactly make for them using their vote wisely. Obviously not all 16-year-olds are like that, but still.
Gerd
Absolute madness. An attempt of a politician to stay in power by 'buying' votes form totally immature and politically disinterested, yet unruly and undisciplined youth. A complete third world effort.
Paul
Well, sounds like Sue has seen a poll somewhere suggesting that 16-18 year olds are Greens supporters. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a hidden agenda in there somewhere. Anyway, letting 15-year-olds get licences enabling them to race performance vehicles against each other through suburbs, and lowering the drinking age have both been fantastic ideas, why not this?
Joe
Maybe you have it all backwards. The question should not be whether we should lower the voting age because kids can drive and enrol in the army etc etc. The question should be whether we should increase the ages for driving etc, and force kids to focus on school and study. It is no wonder that we have such low numbers of skills in this country. You give your kids too much freedom before they are ready and you are doing them and your futures an injustice.
Abuse of power
After the smacking debacle that was pushed through law, despite overwhelming disapproval from the law abiding bourgeois' of this country, at what point do we say 'so far and no further'? Or do we just lay down with a whimper and let the Sue Bradfords of this world ride rough-shot over us? When will this madness end?
Kick them out
Guys if we want to see New Zealand progress and have not to be governed by MPs like Sue Bradford than the first thing we need to do is scrap the MMP system. This system is the cause of all evil. Can some party bring a bill to scrap this nonsense system? Does any party have ....... to introduce this bill?
Mrs Robinson
What NZ doesn't know: When a child is an adult, if we are a Christian country, if a student passes or fails their schooling, and we don't know which government is in power following an election! Wake up NZ! If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything! We want children who know when they are adults! We want students to celebrate their successes and cry over their failures - then they will try harder to succeed! We want a nation that knows its religion and we want a government that is elected by the people for the people. Wake up! What we don't know is hurting us.
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