File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
The government is pouring cold water on calls to lower the voting age, following the United Kingdom's move to extend voting rights to 16 and 17 year olds.
The United Kingdom announced on Friday it will lower the voting age - joining countries like Germany, Austria, Argentina and Brazil.
It comes after the majority of New Zealand's youth MPs recently signed an open letter calling for the voting age to be lowered to 16.
The Make It 16 campaign was founded during Youth Parliament in 2019, making this the third consecutive Youth Parliament where young people have called for the government to lower the voting age even further.
Following the British government's decision on Friday, Make it 16 said New Zealand was falling behind others in terms of democracy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: STEPHANIE LECOCQ / AFP
Make it 16 co-director Lincoln Jones said New Zealand had prided itself on being a world leader in democracy since becoming the first country to give women the right to vote.
"The UK's decision is a turning point for young people's position in democracy. 1.5 million people have just been enfranchised, roughly the population of Auckland," he said.
"Just like in the United Kingdom, young people in Aotearoa are already engaged and ready to participate in the systems that will shape their future."
Jones said New Zealand had since fallen behind, and concerned youths were taking up opportunities overseas.
"Young people are leaving this country en masse because they simply do not see a future here," he said.
"The political landscape has dramatically changed since the voting age was first lowered from 20 to 18 in 1974 in Aotearoa. It is more important than ever that young people are empowered to make decisions about their future in an increasingly volatile world.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said 18 made perfect sense as the voting age, and the government would not be changing it.
"There are some things where 16 is the boundary, some things were 18 is the boundary, we think voting at 18 has been the case a very long period of the time and I don't see a very strong argument for changing it."
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