Some schools in areas where there are low voter turn-outs are encouraging the parents of their students to turn out and vote.
Children at Konini Primary School in Wainuiomata. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen
At Konini Primary School in Wainuiomata, Year 5 student Pare has just found out that her parents are not enrolled to vote and she knows exactly what she is going to do.
"Go home and tell them to vote," she said.
"Because voting can effect change in the world."
Her classmates are also convinced that voting is important.
Maliana said voting gives people a voice. Shekinah said voting could improve the world.
"It's about what's best for the country," Justin said.
The school and several others in Porirua and the Hutt Valley have been encouraging parents to enrol and vote in next week's elections.
One is even offering transport to voting stations on the day and prize draws for children who bring their family to vote.
Teacher union, the Educational Institute, contacted the schools because of low voter turn-out in their areas. It has a campaign called 'Bring an Adult to Vote', inspired by Merivale School in Tauranga, which changed voter turn-out among its families from very low to 100 percent in 2014.
Konini Primary principal Andrea Scanlan Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen
The principal of Konini Primary, Andrea Scanlan, said children have been learning about the voting process and have been checking to see if their parents were enrolled.
"We had an evening here celebrating learning just recently and the students asked their parents and checked for them if they were enrolled," she said.
"We had about 30 parents do that and about 10 registered there and then on the evening to vote so that was really successful, the kids were really excited to see their parents were enrolling."
Ms Scanlan said the school's project was entirely non-partisan and children had discussed issues such as leadership rather than particular parties or their policies.
She said it was important that schools showed children they could be involved in the electoral process.
"When they reach the age ... for voting, it's important that they feel that they can contribute and have a part to say about who should govern their country," she said.
"We want them to develop that understanding now."
Students at Holy Family School. The school has sent 75 voter enrolment packs to families where adults were not enrolled to vote. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen
At Holy Family School in Porirua the principal, Chris Theobald, said addressing low voter turn-out in the area was a proper part of the school's role as the hub of its community.
"A key part of that is looking at what are the ways we can make a dent in the world," he said.
"With a low voter turn-out among young Māori and Pasifika people then we know that that's an area we could hopefully make an impact."
Mr Theobald said the school had sent 75 enrolment packs to local families and would have an early voting booth on site on Thursday.
Chris Theobald said addressing low voter turnout was a proper part of the school's role as the hub of its community. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen
Children in a Year 4-6 class at the school were enthusiastic about the upcoming elections.
Juel said he had persuaded his grandmother to enrol to vote. "I kept asking her 'please Nana get enrolled, get enrolled, hurry up now' and then after a week she got enrolled."
Helmy said she encouraged her father to research a party's policies more closely to make sure that she and her sister had good education and job prospects.
"I told him that if you don't do it, you don't know what's going to happen to our family," she said.
Marley said people should enrol and vote.
"If they don't vote it might have a big impact on people's future."
His classmate Breyton said: "People should get involved because they are part of New Zealand, they live here, so it is really important to vote. Especially if you have children or a baby on the way."
