Commitment to bill to lower voting age looking wobbly
The prime minister has confirmed the issue is being looked at by a Select Committee but comments from officials about government priorities cast doubt on whether a bill will advance any further
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Wednesday, March 8, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: Hipkins and Luxon both seem open to looking at public sector pay freeze; interim chairperson of Te Whatu Ora appointed; the shortlist for the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards is out; but first, is legislation to lower the voting age still a priority for the government?
Government only obligated to respond to Supreme Court declaration on voting age
Last November, the Supreme Court granted a declaration that the provisions of the Electoral Act and of the Local Electoral Act, which provide for a minimum voting age of 18 years, are inconsistent with the right in s19 of the Bill of Rights to be free from discrimination on the basis of age. The case was taken through the courts by the Make It 16 group. Here’s a refresher on what the Supreme Court judgment entailed and what the government is obligated to do about it. The government must respond to the declaration within six months, but does not have to introduce a bill to lower the voting age or hold a referendum on it.
Indications Ardern’s commitment to introduce bill may not be honoured
At the time, former prime minister Jacinda Ardern said she would introduce legislation to lower the voting age to 16 for local and general elections. This morning, Stuff’s Glenn McConnell is reporting that there are indications that Ardern’s commitment may not be honoured and draft legislation to lower the voting age may not advance much further. Justice minister Kiritapu Allan said she had not received advice about introducing a bill to lower the voting age.
“As you'll be aware, government is doing a reassessment of priorities”
In response to a question about whether the Ministry of Justice was working on draft legislation from opposition spokesperson for justice Paul Goldsmith at the Justice Select Committee yesterday, Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite told MPs to expect an announcement from the ministry “in due course.” “We clearly were working on it through last year, but as you'll be aware, government is doing a reassessment of priorities,” he said. Yesterday, justice minister Kiritapu Allan was also hosing down speculation about a referendum on lowering the voting age yesterday saying the government would stick to its existing plan, which is to introduce legislation to lower the voting age to 16. Pressed for her own opinion on whether there should be a referendum, Allan said “power to the people” and walked into Labour’s weekly caucus meeting.
Prime minister says no decision made on options
Speculation about whether a referendum was being considered was derived from comments made by government minister Michael Wood. When asked about lowering the voting age on the AM Show last week, Wood said “there would probably need to be a process of the New Zealand public having their say on that.” In an interview with the same show yesterday, prime minister Chris Hipkins was also asked about a referendum. Citing the two ways the voting age could be changed, a supermajority in parliament or referendum, Hipkins said “the government hasn’t made decisions on which of those two options, if either, we would pursue” and confirmed the Select Committee was looking at it.
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Public sector pay freeze to come to an end?
Both prime minister Chris Hipkins and opposition leader Christopher Luxon seem amenable to ending the public sector pay freeze. A three-year extension to the 2020 pay freeze for those earning more than $100k was announced in 2021. The government has framed the pay freeze as a way of addressing pay gaps within the sector. Amid ongoing debate about the use of consultants and contractors within the sector, Hipkins acknowledged yesterday that public sector wage growth has been lagging behind private sector wage growth. Luxon said he could talk about ending the wage restraint. “I’m very comfortable at making sure that people are fairly remunerated in the public sector,” he said.
Round the boards
Naomi Ferguson has been appointed as the interim chairperson of Te Whatu Ora after Rob Campbell was sacked last week. Campbell continues to speak out, most recently penning an opinion piece for the Institute of Directors in which he describes a “command and control structure totally at odds with the theory and practice of modern organisations” for public sector boards. Campbell’s piece is part of a series on political neutrality published by the Institute yesterday which include opinion pieces from the Institute’s chief executive Kirsten Patterson and Sir Ashley Bloomfield.
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And your Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2023 finalists are…
The shortlist for New Zealand’s most prestigous literary awards is out this morning. Bestselling books by debut writers and established literary luminaries feature among the 16 finalists in the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Selected from a longlist of 44 books across four categories (fiction, poetry, general non-fiction and illustrated non-fiction), the shortlist is assessed by our books editor Claire Mabey and poet Louise Wallace on The Spinoff this morning. Just so it doesn’t seem strange for me not have mentioned it here when you’re reading Mabey and Wallace’s round up, I am the convenor of judges for the General Non-Fiction Award this year. A tipping of that hat to all on the shortlist and everyone involved in spotlighting brilliant literature in Aotearoa.
Click and collect
All people feared missing after Cyclone Gabrielle now accounted for
Ambulances turned away from Auckland Hospital's full emergency department
Truck carrying canisters containing highly flammable gas burst into flames on Auckland’s Southern motorway — northbound lanes remain closed this morning
Great column from BusinessDesk’s Dileepa Fonseka (paywalled) on the prime minister and the leader of the opposition pitching the same thing
Harry Styles concert coverage was at an all time Watermelon Sugar high yesterday, but this story of a local fan who claims one of his songs made her paralysed was peak sign-of-the-times magic
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
If you liked what you read today, share The Bulletin with friends, family and colleagues.
Writer Dorothy McLean on her long and ugly battle against cancer and laying down the foundations for a family. Former MP Chris Carter pays tribute to his friend and colleague Georgina Beyer. Chris Schulz visits Karekare, Muriwai and Piha to find emotions boiling over in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle. Charlotte Muru-Lanning describes the life-changing, unapologetically Māori experience of Te Matatini. Sela Jane Hopgood takes in the action at the first ever Pasifika Village Games.
Sporting snippets
Ardie Savea earns one-match suspension after gesture and yellow card
Only seven women in history have swum faster than Otago teenager Erika Fairweather in the 400m freestyle — how far, and how fast can she go?
Stuart Nash has refused to fight Mark Mitchell in a charity boxing match (frankly, a relief). To scratch any itches you might have about political fight nights, Madeleine Chapman has drafted a fantasy card of political matchups
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