Unless you have been living under a rock, it has become painfully apparent that there is a General Election coming up.

Party and candidate hoardings are lining fences and roadsides, while policy headlines are being dialled up a notch.

Will Christopher Luxon “Fix the basics”? Will Chris Hipkins deliver on “Better Starts Now”? Can Winston Peters put New Zealand First? And will David Seymour “Unlock New Zealand’s potential”?

Regardless of which political message you believe – or disbelieve – there is one thing that is not up for debate: voting is an important part of having a say in the direction of the country.

And while younger voters have traditionally been less likely to turn out than older generations, the figures are not as bleak as they might suggest.

At the 2023 General Election, 74.2 percent of enrolled 18 to 24-year-olds voted, compared with an overall turnout of 78.2 percent. Among 25 to 29-year-olds, turnout was 69.1 percent.

Enrolment among 18 to 29-year-olds has also been improving, reaching 82.9 percent in 2023, up from 80.7 percent in 2020 and 75.5 percent in 2017.

It is a trend Ōpōtiki rangatahi Henare Collier is hoping to build on this year, having been tasked with helping increase youth enrolment and participation in the Eastern Bay as part of Ngā Rangatahi ā Iwi.

For Henare, however, encouraging young people to participate is about far more than simply getting them through the doors of a voting place.

“As we head towards another election, this can be a stressful time for many people.

“There is always uncertainty as we wait to see who will lead Aotearoa for the next term,” he said.

“I have followed politics from a young age, and I have always understood how important representation is. Every person and every community deserves to have their voice heard.”

Henare says history, particularly the relationship between governments and Māori, demonstrates the harm that can occur when communities are misrepresented or left out of decision-making.

A whakataukī he grew up hearing is, “Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi” – as the old net becomes worn, the new generation prepares to cast its net.

“To me, this speaks directly to the role of rangatahi. We are often told that we are the leaders of tomorrow, but rangatahi are already leading today,” he said.

“That is why I believe rangatahi need more than encouragement from the sidelines.

“We need to be present at the decision-making table, standing confidently in our own mana and helping shape the solutions to the challenges affecting our generation.”

Henare said issues such as youth homelessness, suicide and offending continued to affect communities across Aotearoa, but he believed rangatahi should be part of developing the responses.

“We live in a new world, and with new problems,” he said.

“There is no one better placed to understand the realities facing young people than young people themselves.”

For rangatahi Māori, he said there are additional considerations around identity, representation and the experience of being Māori in Aotearoa.

“Our voices need to be heard, not pushed to the side.

“We need to make sure rangatahi were not only invited into conversations, but are given genuine opportunities to influence the decisions that shape our future.”

This year, 12 rangatahi from across the motu have been tasked through Ngā Rangatahi ā Iwi with helping increase rangatahi enrolment in their respective regions.

Henare has taken on the mahi because of his belief in the importance of young people participating in democracy.

“This kaupapa is completely politically neutral. We are not here to tell rangatahi who to vote for, what political party to support, or which roll they should choose,” he said.

“Our goal is simple: to make sure rangatahi understand their rights, have access to the information they need, and have the opportunity to participate.”

Henare is offering online one-on-one and small-group enrolment hui for rangatahi aged 17 to 24, as well as parents of young people in that age group who are not yet enrolled.

The hui will provide a safe space for questions about enrolment and participation, with Henare stressing that no question is too small.

He will also be out in the community during the beginning of the school holidays, at Electoral Commission events and community events, helping rangatahi who want to enrol in person.

“I am taking on this mahi because I believe strongly in the importance of young people participating in our democracy,” Henare said.

“Even without being given this responsibility, I would still be encouraging rangatahi to enrol, vote and exercise their democratic rights.”