Voters’ rocky road in democracy

Despite our democracy being far from perfect, we should cherish the fact that we can shape the nature of how we are ruled, Professor of History Paul Moon says.

With this year’s election coming up fast it is worth remembering that New Zealand was not born democratic, he writes in The Post.

It was thrust upon us by the British Parliament which passed the New Zealand Constitution Act in 1852 and set up our first election.

“The restrictions on who could vote were severe by modern standards. Only men were granted that privilege, and then only those men who possessed land (either freehold or leasehold) to a certain value,” Professor Moon says.

Over time, Māori and women fought for voting rights and the voting age was reduced to 18 years.

Hearteningly, the percentage of New Zealanders voting has increased in recent years to 82 percent in the last election, Professor Moon says.

“Of course, our democracy is far from perfect.”

As we enter the campaign trail and, as Professor Moon put it, “become jaded with candidates’ assurances, and cynical about Parliament’s ability to deal with the challenges our country faces”, we can at least look back on our history as a voting nation and see a legacy of striving for something better and more representative of our changing country.