Kids Voting – Te Pōti a Ngā Tamariki gives your school everything it needs to run a mock election. Teach your students about real candidates, parties and election issues, and give them a first-hand voting experience.
Registrations are open now
Register your school for Kids Voting 2026
How it works
Kids Voting – Te Pōti a Ngā Tamariki is a civics education programme that gives young New Zealanders the opportunity to explore real-life election issues, parties and candidates in an election year.
It is available for all schools and kura to participate in and is a fun, free and easy way for students of all ages (Years 0 to 13) to learn about New Zealand’s democracy.
Participating schools will receive a kit containing everything needed to run the Kids Voting programme, including a how-to guide, teaching resources, a ballot box, and posters. We will provide one kit per participating teacher.
The programme builds up to a mock election which gives students a first-hand voting experience. In 2026, mock elections will take place early in Term 4.
Support your students with the teaching resources
Use the teaching resources to help your students understand how voting works and encourage them to take part.
The resources align with levels 1 to 5 of the current New Zealand Social Sciences Curriculum and level 5 of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
Resource for curriculum levels 1 and 2
Resources for curriculum levels 3 and 4
Resource for curriculum level 5
Resource for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
Get in touch
Contact us at schools@elections.govt.nz if you have any questions about Kids Voting – Te Pōti a Ngā Tamariki 2026.