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Opinions divided over children's flag vote

Author
Laura Heathcote,
Publish Date
Fri, 1 May 2015, 7:19AM
Photo: stock.xchng
Photo: stock.xchng

Opinions divided over children's flag vote

Author
Laura Heathcote,
Publish Date
Fri, 1 May 2015, 7:19AM

One policy analyst says there are valid arguments both for and against allowing children to vote on changing the flag.

The suggestion's been made to a parliamentary select committee, with one submitter saying school-aged children will have to live longer under a new flag than the rest of us - so they should be able to have their say.

The New Zealand Initiative's Dr Eric Crampton acknowledges that argument, but he also says that's true of any policy.

He questions the wisdom of changing the voting age.

"Imagine if every issue that came up, we had to also decide of which age people are competent to decide on it.

"The gains of the policy would be pretty small relative to the hassles in re-litigating it."

Eric Crampton says letting children have their say could help to build a voting culture, but it could also open up them up to later regrets.

 

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