With New Zealand’s general election now just under five weeks away, 1News Vote Compass is back to help voters look beyond the personalities and find their place in the political landscape.
VOTE COMPASS is live now at 1News.co.nz/VoteCompass
This is shaping up to be an election in which every vote could matter.
Neither National nor Labour can expect to govern alone. Under MMP, the fortunes of the smaller parties could determine who occupies the Beehive after November 7.
Polls tell us how people say they intend to vote. Vote Compass asks something different: what do New Zealanders actually think about the choices confronting the country?
Put the policies to the test
You may know which party you like... or which one you have always voted for.
But do their policies line up with what you believe?
Vote Compass presents users with 30 propositions covering the defining issues of the campaign.
They could concern how much tax New Zealanders should pay, what services the government should provide, how crime should be punished, or what role the Treaty should play in public life.
For each proposition, users indicate how strongly they agree or disagree.
They are then asked to identify the issues they consider most important.
Once completed, Vote Compass shows the user where they sit in the political landscape, and how their position compares to the parties.
It is possible to agree with one party strongly on economic policy, another on healthcare and a third on the environment.
It is also possible to discover that the party you feel closest to is not the party you expected.
That is not Vote Compass telling you how to vote.
Aziz Al Sa'afin explains how the election tool works. (Source: 1News)
It is showing how your views compare with the policy positions the parties have taken.
Your eventual vote may also be influenced by leadership, competence, trust, local candidates, coalition possibilities or a single issue you consider non-negotiable. Vote Compass gives you another way to examine that.
University of Auckland political psychology lecturer Danny Osborne said the tool was designed to engage people with policy.
“Democracy is best when people are informed about the issues of the day,” he said. “Vote Compass is that first step that gets people a little more interested in the types of policies and where the political parties sit on these policies.”
Osborne said that focus could help voters cut through the personalities and polling numbers that often dominate election coverage.
“It moves away from that horse-race sort of politics about who’s in the lead and who’s doing this and who’s doing that, and focuses specifically on the policies.”
The tool is developed by Vox Pop Labs in consultation with a panel of New Zealand political scientists.
Researchers have assessed published policies and public statements, and reviewed them with the parties, in order to accurately position them on the issues that matter to New Zealanders.
In 2023, more than 700,000 people completed Vote Compass in New Zealand. When users were asked to name the single most important issue to them in that election, the cost of living ranked first.
How to use Vote Compass
Visit 1News.co.nz/VoteCompass on your phone or computer and work through the 30 questions covering issues such as health, housing and education.
For each question, select the answer that best reflects your views.
Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, you can explore how your views compare with the political parties and where you sit in the political landscape.
You can also look more closely at individual issues, see where you agree or disagree with parties, and read the statements used to explain their positions.
In a new feature, you can also compare how your views line up with similar groups in society.
Vote Compass doesn’t tell you who to vote for. It’s a starting point to help you explore the policies and make your own decision.
To take part, go to 1News.co.nz/VoteCompass now.
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