New Zealand First has today announced that it will be campaigning to change the electoral law to ensure that only citizens have the right to vote.
“Currently, any permanent resident who has gone through the normal process, after just two years living in New Zealand, can vote,” the party said in a press release today.
“In addition, anyone who is here on certain visas that have no expiry date, are technically eligible to vote after just one year living in New Zealand.
“They can vote on who the government is, they can vote on who the local council is, they can even vote in referendums that would fundamentally change the social fabric of our society.
“Voting in our country should be a privilege of those who have sworn allegiance to New Zealand and who have made the commitment to make New Zealand their home and their future.
“If you haven’t made that commitment or sworn that allegiance, we are happy to let you live here permanently, but why should you get a say in how this country is run or governed?
“New Zealand First will restore the basic democratic principle that the right to decide New Zealand’s future belongs to New Zealand citizens.
“Voting in general elections should be reserved for those who have made the full legal and civic commitment to this country.
“Permanent residence gives people the right to live, work, study, and build a life in New Zealand. Citizenship is different.
“Citizenship is the formal bond of allegiance, belonging, responsibility, and democratic authority.
“New Zealand First believes that distinction should matter again.”
Because I pay taxes so you can have a salary Winston. What do you not understand about the word “permanent”?
So get citizenship. Most nations don’t let PR’s vote.
It’s not the “permanent” that’s the problem, it’s the word “resident”. Globalistssuck is correct; if the right to vote matters to you, go get citizenship, and if it doesn’t don’t.
For every hard-working tax-paying “good” immigrant like you, there are 10 bad ones here to leech off of us and turn this place into the country they just left. They will ruin the place just as much for you and yours as they do for ordinary kiwis, you should be in support of this.
You’re always welcome to return to (soon to be) President Juju singing to packed stadiums about killing you with his machine gun 🤷🏼♂️
Relinquish all other passports and citizenship and fully assimilate as a New Zealander or go back to your country of origin. My English mother relinquished hers 50 years ago. Full on kiwi she is. Make your mind up or PO as far as I am concerned. Can’t have your foot in two camps.
So yes I LIKE this policy. Got my tick of approval. ✅
I agree but I also suspect this is wholly self serving too.
Agree with Winston for once. Madness a non citizen (non Kiwi) can vote
I didn’t know they were allowed to vote who did that? No other country in the world allows this!
Winston obviously has no clue that swearing allegiance to New Zealand is not even part of the process of obtaining citizenship. The applicants have to pledge allegiance to a certain king on the other side of the world – that’s a whole different thing.