REPRESENTATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S VOICES
Ensuring young people feel empowered to express their views and believe that their voice matters is crucial to their involvement in civic life. This indicator looks at young people's involvement in government decision making.
Children and young people said they want to be supported to use their voices to provide their insight and perspectives on what matters to them. They also want their voice heard and taken seriously.
The way in which public institutions, laws, policies, and services work impact on outcomes for young people. It is important not just for young people but for democracy as a whole that young people partake in our democratic elections and pursue other avenues to get their voices heard, and that those avenues are enabled by local and central government.
As the OECD reports, “young people are not only demanders of government services but also rights holders and as such should be able to hold their representatives accountable to safeguard access to social, economic, political and cultural opportunities” (Youth Stocktaking Report, 2018). Ensuring young people feel educated and empowered to make their voices heard and believe that their voice matters is crucial to their involvement in civic life.
This indicator initially looks at the percentage of young people enrolled and voting in the New Zealand General Election, drawing on administrative data from the New Zealand Electoral Commission. Data about trust in Parliament from the General Social Survey, and data on the number of young people working in the public service is also included.
This indicator relates to the 'involved and empowered' outcome.
How will we measure this?
- This indicator draws on administrative data from the New Zealand Electoral Commission.
- It will also include data from the General Social Survey, including trust in Parliament and the number of young people working in the public service.
- Workforce data is updated annually. Data from the general social survey is updated every two years.
For more information
- For more information on enrolment statistics see: https://elections.nz/stats-and-research/enrolment-statistics/enrolment-by-general-electorate/
- For more information about the New Zealand General Social Survey see: https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/wellbeing-statistics-2018
- For more information about young people’s democratic participation, visit: https://wellbeingindicators.stats.govt.nz/en/democratic-participation/