82 S e cti o n T w o – c iv il and politi cal rights practices with the need for efficiency where issues have higher than the OECD median of 74 per cent, there has already been well canvassed. Guidance in the Cabinet been a decline in civic engagement in its most ‘politically Guide for the public service about consulting community salient’ forms (such as voter turnout 33) over the last organisations will also be developed, along with a 20 years. In 2008, voter turnout in New Zealand in the tool for assessing how existing work to improve and general election was 76 per cent, a slight decline from measure government performance can include agencies’ 77 per cent in 2005, but significantly less than the 89 per community relationships. cent recorded in 1984. 34 There will be seminars on good practice in community Although there is no detailed information available on engagement in a range of locations, the development of who votes, results from New Zealand election surveys a Code of Funding Practice to assist implementation of over a number of years show that non-voters are more good funding practice, and information for community likely to be people on lower incomes, younger people, organisations on the Ombudsmen’s role in dispute and members of Mäori, Pacific or ethnic groups. This is of resolution. 31 concern, because where there is a decline in voter turnout Authorisation Elections in New Zealand are considered to be free and fair – ‘free’ because there is no restriction on access to the process, and ‘fair’ because they are impartially run in among low-income groups, governments can react by spending less on welfare, with the result that over the long term, social problems associated with poverty and income inequality are more likely. 35 accordance with international standards. 32 The criteria There has also been a drop in those voting in local-body for deciding whether elections are free and fair will vary elections, down from 46 per cent in 2004 to 44 per cent from country to country. They take into account issues such as rules about campaigning, balancing the rights of those not contesting the election to put their arguments to the people with the right to free speech without restriction. It was perhaps a reflection of the commitment to democracy in New Zealand that led to the level of public concern when these values appeared to be under Table 1: Percentage of registered population who voted in Parliamentary elections in New Zealand and selected OECD countries, 2005–2008 Country Date of recent election Voter turnout at election New Zealand 2008 79.5 Australia* 2007 95 the population has in it and the importance they attach Canada 2008 59 to political institutions. While it is mandatory for all United States 2008 62 Sweden 2006 81.9 United Kingdom 2005 62 threat with the introduction of the electoral finance legislation. Voter turnout rates are an indicator of the extent to which citizens participate in the political process, the confidence New Zealand citizens and permanent residents to be on the electoral roll once they are 18 years old, it is not compulsory to vote. Even though New Zealand ranked 10th out of 30 OECD * Voting is compulsory in Australia countries surveyed in 2008 on voter turnout, which was 31 Office of the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector (2009), para 4 32 Elections New Zealand, Free and Fair Elections. Accessible online at http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/concepts/free-fair-elections/ 33 Vowles J (2004), Civic engagement in New Zealand: Decline or Demise? Inaugural professorial address delivered at the Conference Centre, University of Auckland, October 13, 2004. Accessible online at http://www.nzes.org/docs/papers/Inaugural_2004.pdf 34 Ministry of Social Development (2009), Social Report 2009 (Wellington: MSD). Accessible online at http://www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/ 35 Brady D (2003), The Politics of Poverty: Left Political Institutions, the Welfare State and Poverty, Social Forces 82 (2), pp 557–588, cited in MSD (2009)