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 closed
Registrations for Kids Voting 2026 closed at 5pm, Friday 25 September.
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.
Mock elections for Kids Voting 2026 should take place between Monday 19 October and Tuesday 3 November.
Mock election feedback and results
Once your school has taken part in the mock election, submit your results and any feedback you have about the programme via the online form. Submit your feedback and results by Friday 4 December.
Kids Voting 2026: Feedback and results
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 the current New Zealand Social Sciences Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
Download the teaching resources
Get in touch
Contact us at schools@elections.govt.nz if you have any questions about Kids Voting – Te Pōti a Ngā Tamariki 2026.