Youth campaign takes enrolment push to Ōtara

More than 166,000 people aged 18 to 24 are not enrolled to vote ahead of the 7 November general election.

The figure was highlighted at an enrolment event held by the rangatahi-led campaign On A Roll at Ōtara Town Centre in South Auckland on Saturday. The campaign said it had helped with more than 10,000 enrolments so far, as part of its nationwide push to lift youth enrolment RNZ.

On A Roll is a non-partisan, youth-led campaign that uses music, community events, free kai and haircuts to encourage young people to enrol. It has been travelling to communities with low enrolment to encourage rangatahi and whānau to get on the roll.

Campaign director Chantelle Conroy, of Te Ātiawa, said people aged 18 to 24 are the second biggest voting population in Aotearoa. The campaign aims for the biggest youth voter turnout in the general election.

The Ōtara event was one of five stops on what the campaign calls the Sound System hīkoi, with similar events held around the country. Two of the sound systems taking part are Christchurch-based KAWAI and Bigbada Boom Sound System, described as Aotearoa's first wāhine reggae sound.

KAWAI is founded and operated by 22-year-old Tūrāhui Payne, of Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Waikato. Bigbada Boom was founded by Ariki Brightwell, of Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Rongowhakaata, also known as Queen Big Punch.

Under changes to electoral law, people must enrol before election day to vote in this year's election. The enrolment deadline is 25 October RNZ.