NZ govt shelves bill to lower voting age

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (not pictured) attend a joint press conference in Parliament House in Canberra on Feb 7, 2023. The New Zealand government backtracked on Monday on introducing legislation to lower the voting age to 16 in the country's general elections, saying it does not have the required numbers for the bill to pass in parliament. (PHOTO / AFP)

The New Zealand government backtracked on Monday on introducing legislation to lower the voting age to 16 in the country's general elections, saying it does not have the required numbers for the bill to pass in parliament.

Any change in electoral law will require the support of 75% of parliament members and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said his government does not have that level of backing in parliament.

Giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds is something that I do support and I'm happy to see progressed.

Chris Hipkins,

New Zealand Prime Minister

But Hipkins said he would introduce a bill to lower the voting age for local government elections as that would only require a regular majority in the parliament.

"Giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds is something that I do support and I'm happy to see progressed," Hipkins said during a media conference.

ALSO READ: New Zealand court rules voting age of 18 is discriminatory

New Zealand's highest court in November ruled the country's current voting age of 18 was discriminatory, saying it was inconsistent with the country's Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they have reached 16. The case was brought by youth advocacy group Make It 16.

Jacinda Ardern, who was the prime minister then, had said the government would draft legislation to reduce the voting age, which could then be put to a vote in parliament. The Green Party offered its support but the main opposition National Party said it would oppose it.