I've heard from people who have decided they won't be voting this year. Others are still trying to work out who, if anyone, deserves their vote.
And I understand why.
After everything we've experienced over the past six years, it's hardly surprising that so many New Zealanders have lost faith in politicians and the political system.
When Alia, Libby and I started Voices for Freedom back in 2020, we were three mums who were deeply concerned about what was happening to our country and what it meant for our families. We had no idea what lay ahead. We certainly didn't expect to find ourselves doing what we're doing today!
But we knew that staying quiet wasn't an option. And so did the thousands of New Zealanders who joined us. Together, we've challenged government decisions, asked difficult questions, supported one another, built communities and created our own independent media platform.
We've had our fair share of disappointments along the way. But we've also seen what can happen when enough ordinary people refuse to give up.In fact, we've just had another reminder of that.
This week, New Zealand was one of only two countries to abstain from a United Nations vote on a declaration concerning pandemic preparedness. Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the decision, citing concerns about protecting New Zealand's sovereignty and our ability to make our own decisions about public health.
And the reaction has been quite something! Former Prime Minister Helen Clark called it “humiliating”. Chris Hipkins described it as an embarrassment.
Well, I see something rather different.
For years, people like us have been raising concerns about the WHO, international health agreements and the importance of keeping decisions about New Zealand in New Zealand.
And here we have a political party taking a position on the international stage that reflects some of those concerns, despite considerable pressure to fall into line.
That matters. And I think we should recognise it.
You don't have to agree with everything Winston Peters says or does to appreciate this particular decision. You don't even have to like the man!
We should still question him, challenge him and hold him accountable, just as we should every other politician. But this is a timely reminder that political pressure, public scrutiny and persistent voices can make a difference.
And that brings me back to the election.
I know many of you feel there is no party that truly represents your views.I share plenty of those frustrations. But I worry about good people becoming so disillusioned that they decide there's simply no point in participating.
Because the decisions made in Parliament will affect us whether we vote or not. They will affect our families, our businesses, our freedoms and the opportunities our children have in the years ahead. And as we've learned the hard way, the people making those decisions matter.
We don't have to find a perfect political party to recognise that some outcomes may be better than others.
Nor does voting mean giving anyone a free pass. Whoever forms the next government, our job remains the same. We keep asking questions. We keep speaking up. We keep holding them to account. That's what Voices for Freedom has always been about.
So, if you're thinking about sitting this election out, I'd encourage you to give it some more thought. Look carefully at the options. Consider what matters most to you, what each party has actually done, and what the possible election outcomes might mean for New Zealand.
And please, take the time to understand how MMP works. Your party vote and electorate vote do different jobs, and the way our electoral system operates can produce some surprising results. We've put together some resources to help explain all of this, and I hope you'll find them useful.
Whatever you decide on election day, I hope you make that decision from a position of knowledge and conviction, rather than frustration or resignation.
Six years ago, we decided that our voices mattered enough to stand up and use them.
I still believe that today. And I hope you do too.
Claire Deeks is a registered patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand with over a decade practising as a commercial litigation lawyer. She is also a co-founder of RCR and Voices for Freedom. This article represents the author’s personal opinion and is not a formal legal opinion, and was sourced HERE
When Alia, Libby and I started Voices for Freedom back in 2020, we were three mums who were deeply concerned about what was happening to our country and what it meant for our families. We had no idea what lay ahead. We certainly didn't expect to find ourselves doing what we're doing today!
But we knew that staying quiet wasn't an option. And so did the thousands of New Zealanders who joined us. Together, we've challenged government decisions, asked difficult questions, supported one another, built communities and created our own independent media platform.
We've had our fair share of disappointments along the way. But we've also seen what can happen when enough ordinary people refuse to give up.In fact, we've just had another reminder of that.
This week, New Zealand was one of only two countries to abstain from a United Nations vote on a declaration concerning pandemic preparedness. Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the decision, citing concerns about protecting New Zealand's sovereignty and our ability to make our own decisions about public health.
And the reaction has been quite something! Former Prime Minister Helen Clark called it “humiliating”. Chris Hipkins described it as an embarrassment.
Well, I see something rather different.
For years, people like us have been raising concerns about the WHO, international health agreements and the importance of keeping decisions about New Zealand in New Zealand.
And here we have a political party taking a position on the international stage that reflects some of those concerns, despite considerable pressure to fall into line.
That matters. And I think we should recognise it.
You don't have to agree with everything Winston Peters says or does to appreciate this particular decision. You don't even have to like the man!
We should still question him, challenge him and hold him accountable, just as we should every other politician. But this is a timely reminder that political pressure, public scrutiny and persistent voices can make a difference.
And that brings me back to the election.
I know many of you feel there is no party that truly represents your views.I share plenty of those frustrations. But I worry about good people becoming so disillusioned that they decide there's simply no point in participating.
Because the decisions made in Parliament will affect us whether we vote or not. They will affect our families, our businesses, our freedoms and the opportunities our children have in the years ahead. And as we've learned the hard way, the people making those decisions matter.
We don't have to find a perfect political party to recognise that some outcomes may be better than others.
Nor does voting mean giving anyone a free pass. Whoever forms the next government, our job remains the same. We keep asking questions. We keep speaking up. We keep holding them to account. That's what Voices for Freedom has always been about.
So, if you're thinking about sitting this election out, I'd encourage you to give it some more thought. Look carefully at the options. Consider what matters most to you, what each party has actually done, and what the possible election outcomes might mean for New Zealand.
And please, take the time to understand how MMP works. Your party vote and electorate vote do different jobs, and the way our electoral system operates can produce some surprising results. We've put together some resources to help explain all of this, and I hope you'll find them useful.
Whatever you decide on election day, I hope you make that decision from a position of knowledge and conviction, rather than frustration or resignation.
Six years ago, we decided that our voices mattered enough to stand up and use them.
I still believe that today. And I hope you do too.
Claire Deeks is a registered patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand with over a decade practising as a commercial litigation lawyer. She is also a co-founder of RCR and Voices for Freedom. This article represents the author’s personal opinion and is not a formal legal opinion, and was sourced HERE
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