Norty Jensen Heta is at student at Whangārei Boys High School. Photo: Susan Botting / LDR
What a difference a day makes could well be Whangārei teenager Norty Jensen Heta's theme song when it comes to this year's local elections.
Three hours is all that separates Jensen Heta from being able to vote in the 2025 local elections alongside his teenage peers.
Jensen Heta was born at 3am on October 12, 2007, so turns 18 this year.
But New Zealanders must be 18 before midnight on October 11 to vote in the 2025 local elections, which close at noon on that day.
"It's really quite unlucky," Jensen Heta said.
Almost 2000 Northlanders have turned 18 since October 9, 2022, the day after the last local elections - 999 in Whangārei, 683 in the Far North and 234 in Kaipara.
Whangārei Boys High School Jensen Heta student really wants to be among those, so he could vote.
He can enrol to vote as a 17-year old, but he won't be able to do so have his say until 2028.
"Voting is important. Learn about it and make the most of being able to," is Jensen Heta's message to fellow teenagers who have turned 18 since October 9 2022.
"You should definitely go for it and vote," Jensen Heta said.
"Make the most of the opportunity. Get into gear and learn all about what you need to do."
The irony of Jensen Heta's situation has been further amplified by that of his fellow Whangārei Boys High School student and friend Zachary Forrest whose 18th birthday was last month, meaning he's eligible to vote in this year's local elections.
Whangārei Boys High School Zachary Forrest, 18, with his guitar as he goes to pick up special election voting papers from WDC. Photo: Susan Botting / LDR
Forrest picked up his papers to enrol for this year's elections from Whangārei District Council's Te Iwitahi civic centre last Friday.
Jensen Heta said local councils were important. They affected local roads for example, the condition of which impacted new learner drivers such as himself.
He said schools should be teaching students about how to vote, so students were better prepared.
Meanwhile, Whangarei NorthTec student Tai Clyde (Ngāpuhi) (19) also enrolled at Te Iwitahi last Friday as a new first-time local election voter and picked up his special voting pack.
Enrolling to vote simultaneously added him to his chosen Māori electoral roll and local election system.
Clyde said it was important to be able to vote and have your say.
Whangārei NorthTec student Tai Clyde (Ngāpuhi), 19, signs up to have his say in Northland's local elections for the first time. Photo: Susan Botting / LDR
"You might think it's only one vote, but every vote counts," Clyde said.
He said first-time voting could be daunting.
One of the biggest challenges was finding out about where to get information from about the local elections.
And even more so, actually going into the council to enrol to vote.
Meanwhile, Ōtangarei Mum Lizzie Ranui (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngatiwai) has played a critical role in getting four other first-time voters in her wider whanau to vote.
Ranui took the first-time voter quartet from her whanau group into Whangārei District Council's Te Iwitahi civic centre last Friday to vote, enrol to do so and/or pick up their special voting packs. She also took her brother along who hasn't voted in more than a decade.
And she's got another four whānau 18-year-olds in her sight.
Ranui said it was important to her the young people got involved.
Her daughter Lizzie-Jean Ranui (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngatiwai) turned 18 in November last year and cast her first vote last Friday by dropping it in to an orange ballot box at Te iwitahi.
Otangarei's Lizzie-Jean Ranui, 18, voting for first time in Whangārei. Photo: Susan Botting / LDR
"If we don't vote we don't have a say," Lizzie-Jean said.
Lizzie-Jean said watching MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke (New Zealand's youngest MP since Parliament's first 1853 -1855 term) in action in Parliament had helped her learn about how the Government and in turn local government worked.
Lizzie-Jean enrolled on the Māori roll and voted in the district and regional council's Māori electoral areas.
Her message to other young people newly turned 18 since the last elections was to step up.
"Don't be scared. Have the courage to get out into public and go in to your local council to get enrolled and vote," Lizzie-Jean said.
Whānau group leader Lizzie Ranui (front right in khaki jacket) with the group of four first-time mostly teenage voters who are now voting in the local elections thanks to her efforts. From left Lizzie-Jean Ranui, Rangimarie Harding holding son Morehu Harding, Isabel Chapman, Huia Ranui, Juztyze Ranui - and brother Kyle Chapman in his thirties who she brought to vote for the first time in more than a decade Photo: Susan Botting / LDR
Whanāu member and tertiary student Isabel Chapman (Ngāpuhi) turned 18 in May and was another of the whanau quintet that visited Te Iwitahi on Friday.
She enrolled to pick up her special voting pack.
Another whanau member, and mother Rangimarie Harding (Ngāpuhi) (20) turned 18 in November 2022 just under two months after the last local elections.
Harding enrolled to vote online before heading down to Te Iwitahi as part of the group, to fill out her form to record she would be special voting and taking home her special voting pack.
"If you don't vote, nothing will happen," Harding said.
"Enrol and vote for who you want. Educate yourself about the candidates.
"Vote in somebody you support so they'll work to make the changes you want.
"You've got to vote to make sure you know who gets elected so they will make the right decisions for you and your people," Harding said.
-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
