Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting Programme

The Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting initiative is for tamariki aged between 11-15 years old (school years 7 to 10). It enables teachers to replicate the local authority elections taking place in each area, in their akomanga, classroom.

Youth voting gives tamariki a chance to try out the election process by discussing what’s important to them, voting for candidates on real issues, and comparing their results against the official election results. Youth voting is designed to align with the civics education theme in the existing school curriculum.

How it works

Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting registrations are open now here.
Registrations close on Friday 12 August 2022.

Youth voting will take place from Friday 16 September to Friday 30 September 2022

Kaiako and teachers that register will be provided with the resources to plan and run an election in their classroom. We’ll also provide information on local candidates and a teacher’s guide outlining key concepts to share with your students.

When you register, you’ll digitally receive voting packs from Friday 16 to Wednesday 21 September 2022 while NZ Post begins to deliver voting papers to households across the motu. This is approximately three weeks before the close of voting on Saturday 8 October 2022.

Youth voting must be completed by the last day of term three, which is Friday 30 September 2022. Ballot boxes need to be sealed until they are opened on the first day of term four on Monday 17 October which is the day after provisional results from the elections will have been announced.

Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting Teacher’s guide

The Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting Teacher’s guide that has been designed to help teachers’ run youth voting in their school or classroom. It contains a how-to guide and useful information about local elections and key concepts that could be discussed with students.

The guide is available in both Te Reo Māori and English.

Te Reo Māori Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi Youth Voting Teacher’s Guide

English Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting Teacher’s guide

More resources

Candidate Guide
This Local Government NZ Guide for Candidates contains useful content about standing for local election, how councils work, and nomination requirements. A 2022 version will be available soon.

Electoral Commission – Teaching Voting in Schools
These teaching unit resources are designed to encourage students to have their say on decisions that affect their lives now and in the future; and to explore the relationship between voting, New Zealand’s system of government and issues that face local communities and electorates.

The resources were created by the Electoral Commission to align to Levels 3-5 of the New Zealand curriculum, and Level 5 of Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Get in touch

To find out more information about Ngā Pōti ā-Taiohi – Youth Voting 2022, please email