About Elect Who?
Elect Who? aims to help New Zealanders make an informed decision when voting in the November election. Focusing on the issues of sustainable development and climate change, Elect Who? represents the interests of New Zealand’s youth and future generations.
Without responsible government policies in these key areas, today’s and tomorrow’s young people face inheriting a resource-stripped and environmentally unstable world: the ultimate intergenerational debt.
Young people around the country have asked election candidates to share their own and their party’s views on a set of carefully selected questions, covering topics from energy to public transport. These interviews are shared on this website so Kiwis can become more informed about where parties and candidates in their own electorate sit on these crucial issues.
Elect Who? aspires to show politicians that climate change and sustainability matter to us, to make the election process more relevant to young people, and to discuss issues that may not otherwise find attention in the mainstream media.
Who’s Behind Elect Who?
Elect Who? is a collaboration between Generation Zero and the New Zealand Youth Delegation, two youth-run organisations that are advocating for young New Zealanders on issues of intergenerational equity. They’re calling for serious reductions in our domestic greenhouse gas emissions, to make sure that Aotearoa is doing its best to secure a safe climate future for our young people and future generations.
Generation Zero is a nationwide movement of young people uniting to create political change towards a better future, with New Zealand proactively tackling climate change and moving beyond fossil fuels. Since its formation in early 2011, the team has been working hard to mobilise and empower fellow young people to get democratically engaged and ensure the party they vote for is committed to meaningful action. Generation Zero wants to see New Zealand working towards a zero carbon economy, and building sustainable communities which support our nation’s young people.
The New Zealand Youth Delegation is a team of young people aged 16-26 who are selected each year to attend annual United Nations climate change conferences. The delegation was formed to send twelve young Kiwis to Copenhagen in 2009 – the largest conference of any kind in human history. During the year, NZYD focuses on lobbying the New Zealand Government to make more ambitious commitments to reducing our country’s emissions. They also visit community groups to share their experiences.
