Opinion: Teens deserve right to vote

PHOTO/FILE

While much of the talk this week has been about Prime Minister Bill English's plan to raise the pension age to 67, at the other end of the age scale came the suggestion to lower the voting age to 16.

What a great idea.

To coincide with Children's Day on Sunday, Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft put the idea out there and said, let's start the conversation New Zealand.

Children grow up fast these days. In the age of the internet and social media teenagers are more aware and informed than ever about what's going on in the world around them.

Call them idealistic or yet to become jaded, but many young people care deeply about issues such as the environment, poverty and education. They also care and have opinions on more "grown up" issues such as access to housing, immigration and equality. And after finding out they will have to wait until 67 to get their pension, many may be taking more than a passing interest in superannuation now as well!

Over the years we have featured countless stories about local 16 and 17-year-olds, and their intelligence and passion for issues always amazes.

Sure, some 16 and 17-year-olds are too immature, self-involved and disinterested to vote. But there are also plenty of 25, 45 and 60-year-olds that are too immature, self-involved and disinterested to vote - or to put any real thought or effort into who gets their tick.

By letting those teenagers who care vote in elections we would be giving them a say in their own future. The decisions being made by politicians today will arguably affect their lives more than they will ours. It's only fair they have a say in that.