Monthly Archive:: September 2014

In an election that will probably be decided by superannuitants and baby boomers, young people are still getting involved and joining political parties. Michael Cropp reports. Sam MacDonald, 23, is your prototypical Young Nat – a young professional, an accountant and deadly serious. We meet at a café

Less than 15 percent of those enrolled to vote have taken advantage of web-based voter information applications ahead of tomorrow’s election. Websites such as Vote Compass, Candidate and On the Fence are designed to condense relevant political issues and give voters an indication of which party best

Christchurch appears to be the least politically engaged city in New Zealand, Electoral Commission figures suggest. Nine per cent of voters nationwide have yet to enrol, but in Canterbury the numbers are almost double that figure. In Christchurch East, 18 per cent remain unregistered and in Christchurch

The Electoral Commission is investigating a photo posted to social media by the Green party’s London branch this week. The Kiwi Greens UK posted to its Facebook and Twitter accounts a photo of an unofficial exit poll showing the party votes of 111 people. The photos have since been

Most Christchurch candidates are using social media in this election, but some are using it better and more often than others. All Christchurch MPs, except Gerry Brownlee, and most candidates have Twitter accounts. Green Party list MP Mojo Mathers has the most followers with just over 4000.

An informal survey of Canterbury University students suggests young people may be more engaged in politics than first thought. Where electoral statistics state that only 65 percent of those aged 18 to 24 in central Christchurch have so far enrolled to vote, The Record’s survey of 68

For male politicians it is as simple as picking a tie colour, but for their female counterparts outfits need to be picked to perfection, down to the size of the shoulder pads. “People are much more critical of women than they are of men,” said public relations

Dirty politics has given some fresh reasons to vote, but for others it is a turn-off. Christchurch expat Christopher Rive chose not to vote in the last election but has decided he needs to vote this time because of the ‘messy’ politics and ‘dodgy’ happenings. “Long story

His red car, named Mabel after Mabel Howard, New Zealand’s first female cabinet minister, is parked nearby blasting Pharrell’s “Happy”. It’s 7.30am in the morning but the Labour candidate for Christchurch Central is bright and cheerful, ready for an hour’s worth of sign waving. He gets a

Josh Cornah of Unlimited School and Nathan Bothamley of Christchurch Boys’ High School are off to New Caledonia to represent New Zealand in the under 16 World Youth Climbing Championships starting on 19 September. They are the only climbers selected to compete from the South Island.  A