Honour Mehara’s Vote

Honour Mehara’s Vote

I mate ohorere a Mehara Tamaki i tana kainga i Otangarei.

Mehara Tamaki died suddenly in mid September at her home in Otangarei. She was a member of several youth advocacy groups  in Tai Tokerau , a national executive representative of MANA and she  had cast her first vote in the early stages of advanced voting.  Unfortunately due to her unexpected death, her vote will be disallowed.

One of MANA’s submissions to the Electoral Commission during and post the elections, will be to challenge the law that disallows votes  of those who die within the election period. One vote won’t win a campaign.  But this law mocks the sanctity of one’s personal rights, which should not diminish in her sad death.

“My greatest struggle right now is watching our people be forced into situations where they have no control, where our people do not have homes or are being kicked out.

I love watching rangatahi Māori thrive – watching our people, our language, our culture thrive!

I’m hopeful that one day in Aotearoa everyone has a warm whare and hot kai; that our pēpi have a stable foundation where they are able to thrive in the passions they wish to follow.

I believe it’s important for every New Zealander to use their vote and make change with us.

I will vote for the first time ever this year. I will vote because we have the power to make the change we want to see. We are the generation of change and we control who runs our country.”

Mehara Tamaki, 19, Te Tai Tokerau, first time voter #YoungGiftedandVotes