If you are 18 years old or older, if you are a New Zealand citizen or a Permanent Resident, and if you have lived in New Zealand continuously for more than one year, you must enrol as a voter. It is compulsory to enrol but it is not compulsory to vote. Everyone who is enrolled received a letter early in July, asking them to check their name and address. If you have not enrolled, you can do it online by August 16th. Click here to enrol.

　　New Zealand is a democracy and this means that we are free to vote for candidates to represent us. Try to find out something about the candidates for election. You might be able to hear them speak at a meeting. Sometimes candidates knock on your door to introduce themselves. Ask them why you should vote for them.

　　Local body elections are from 20 September until 12 October. It is a postal vote. You will receive your voting papers in the mail and you have to return them by midday 12th October. You will have a chance to vote for your local city or district council and mayor. You can also vote for members of the Health Board in your district, your regional council and, in some areas, your local community board.

　　Vocabulary

　　?local body – a local organisation e.g. city council

　　?continuously – all the time

　　?candidate – a person who wants to be elected