Make Your Vote Count

Those who have gone before us paved the way for everyone 18 years and over to have the privilege of voting; however, in the 2017 general election only 79.8 percent of eligible voters did, and in the 18 to 34 age group it was around 69 percent. Apathy, disillusionment and perhaps a feeling that my vote won’t make a difference are potential reasons.

We can be proud that New Zealand became the first country enabling women to vote. Prior to 1867, Māori men could vote if they owned land and could provide the evidence—legislation through a solely European lens. In 1867, Parliament set up four electorates for Māori: three in the North Island and one for the South Island. To avoid difficulties with property ownership, all Māori men aged over 21 were eligible to vote. Four seats were an inequitable concession on a per capita basis, as Māori deserved 14 to 16 members (Europeans then had 72).

In the lead up to the election, politicians are trying to persuade us to vote for them with promises, many aimed at what is referenced as the ‘squeezed middle’. As The Salvation Army we are seeing more people accessing our services in the ‘crushed bottom’ or, as William Booth described it, the submerged tenth. Many are doing all they can to provide for themselves and their families, yet are accessing our foodbanks, financial mentoring and living in our transitional houses.

Throughout August and September our Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit released a series of five ‘pressing issues for our people’ documents focusing on jobs; living costs and tax; helping children and youth to thrive; homelessness and housing deprivation; alcohol, gambling and illicit drugs; and criminal justice. They offer a snapshot of the issues that are important for the more than 150,000 people The Salvation Army serves and journeys with each year.

I encourage you to read these, see what politicians propose they will do, make an informed decision around how you will cast your vote—and get out and vote.

Colonel Gerry WalkerChief Secretary

Read Captain Emma Howan’s piece ‘The Salvation Army: Non-Partisan not Apolitical’ at tinyurl.com/TSANonpartisan

Isaiah 51:4–5

Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. (NIV)

Whakarongo ki ahau, e āku tāngata, kia whai taringa ki ahau, e tāku iwi; ka puta atu hoki he ture i roto i ahau, ka takoto anō i ahau tāku whakawā hei whakamārama mō ngā iwi. Kei te tata mai tōku tika; kua puta tāku whakaora, mā ōku ringa e whakawā mō ngā iwi; ka tatari ki ahau ngā motu, ka okioki ki tōku ringa. (PT)

Dou vakarorogo vei au, na noqu tamata; ka vakatu daligamudou vei au, na noqu matanitu: ni na lako yani maivei au na vunau, ia na noqu lewa ka’u na vakataudeitaka me nodra rarama na veimataqali. Sa voleka na noqu lewa dodonu, sa lako yani na veivakabulai ka’u sa cakava, ia na ligaqu ena lewai ira na veimataqali; era na waraki au na veiyanuyanu, ka ra na vakararavi ki na ligaqu. (FOV)

He mere logo, tum meri suno! Meri sthaapna prakash ke samaan hogi jo logo ko dikhlaayegi ki kaese jia jaata hai. May shigr hi prakat karunga ki may sachaai ka marg hu. May shigr hi tumhari raksha karunga. May apni shakti ko kaam me launga. Aur mae sabhi raashtr ka nyae karunga. Sabhi dur dur ke desh meri baant jo rahe hai! Unko meri shakti ki aasha hai jo usko bachaegi. (Fijian/Hindi)

Fanongo kiate au, ‘a hoku kakai; pea fokotu‘u telinga mai, ‘a e fa‘ahi ‘a‘aku: he ‘alu atu ha lao ‘iate au, pea te u ‘ai ‘a e tu‘unga ki he‘eku konisitūtone, ke hoko ko e maama ‘o e ngaahi kakai. Kuo ofi ‘eku fakatonutonu, kuo ‘alu atu ‘eku fakamo‘ui, pea ‘e fakamaau ‘e hoku nima ‘a e ngaahi kakai; ‘oku sio kiate au ‘a e ngaahi motu, ‘io, ‘oku nau tatali ki hoku nima. (TMB)

Faalogo mai ia ia te au lo‘u nuu e; o‘u tagata e, uai mai ia o outou taliga ia te au; auā e alu atu le tulafono ia te au, ou te faatumauina foi la‘u faamasinoga e fai ma malamalama o nuu. Ua lata mai le amiotonu mai ia te au, ua alu atu la‘u faaolataga; o‘u lima foi e faamasinoina ai nuu; e faatalitali mai ia te au o nuu tu matafaga, latou te faamoemoe foi i lo‘u lima. (SOV)