“This is history,” said Make It 16 co-director Caeden Tipler,adding:“The government and parliament cannot ignore such a clear legal and moral message. They must let us vote.”
The group says on its website there is insufficient justification to stop 16-year-olds from voting when they can drive,work full-time and pay tax.
Political parties in New Zealand have mixed views on the subject. The Green Party wants immediate action to lower the voting age to 16 but largest opposition party,the National party,does not support the shift.
“Obviously,we’ve got to draw a line somewhere,” said National party leader Christopher Luxon. “We’re comfortable with the line being 18. Lots of different countries have different places where the line’s drawn and,from our point of view,18’s just fine.”
The Labour government has not publicly commented on the decision.