LETTERS: Don't vote | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

Rather than not voting the next best idea would be to weed out the candidates who have not performed over the years. Council elections have become a "parade from the past" as clearly a good number of the candidates seem to feel they have a monopoly on intelligence yet still do not perform. The great risk is to continue the same old give away of Ratepayers money as if they were another level of welfare in our society trying to out do the government of the
day. Unless rate increases are looked upon as bad news then the Greater Auckland Region will be a place where only the wealthy can reside.
Ray Clarke
North Shore

In response to Des Fox from Arkles Bay, I very much frown upon the key message suggested that voters ought not to vote.
I personally believe that by voting for candidates who stand for your values and ideas, that change can be achieved. If this is not your case, then lobby them - candidates are there to represent the public.
Therefore, if you get a group large enough together to express your concerns, then they are forced to listen to you.
After all, at the end of the day, they are there to bring your concerns to the council. In my opinion, if voters take no action - ie., don't vote - we allow our lives to be controlled in a way that we may wish otherwise. With the gift of free speech and the ability to publicly express one's views (no matter how extreme they are), we must make the most of this opportunity.
This brings us back to the concern of youth representation in the Auckland Council. Young people ought to take the initiative to find out the mayoral candidates' views on youth representation so that they are better informed about who will best represent them. After all, this is our city - the city we will lead in the years to come. Generation Y: stand up and be heard. Do not throw your vote to waste.
So vote. Because every second of every day, you make a decision that can and will change your lives forever.
Anna Zhang
Head girl
One Tree Hill College

The problem with the general Auckland not voting would mean that business people wanting the super city would vote with the increased chance that the person(s) elected would be those who espouse Auckland City policies. These policies are not ratepayer and resident friendly like those in North Shore, Manukau and Waitakere. Auckland City charges and charges and gives almost nothing for free. It also overrules decisions by communities and forces its policies on those communities. "Consultation", in the full meaning of the word, is not in the vocabulary of the ACC organisation. Think carefully before you vote.
Lynette Reed
Waiheke Island