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New Zealand Election 2017

23 Sep 2017

NZ pets join the political pawty

3:57 pm on 23 September 2017

It took the UK's recent general election by storm - no, not UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, but the wildly popular #dogsatpollingstations social media hashtag.

Photo: Supplied/ @edufk / @ChrisKeall / @Ptrfrs / @WendyWings

Dog owners (along with goat owners, cat owners and even duck owners) shared photos of their four-legged friends accompanying them to polling booths across Britain, and animal-lovers in the New Zealand have been waiting to get in on the act ever since.

Without further introduction, here is #dogsatpollingstations, the New Zealand edition.

You can tweet your democracy-loving pet to @radionz or email it to webnews@radionz.co.nz

Sansa at St Barnabas' church hall #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/fYbEgtXhzt
— Jack Montgomerie (@MontgomerieJack) September 22, 2017

Spike has a simple message for you all:

Spike says vote #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/T6yI6ujkch
— Vaughn Davis (@vaughndavis) September 22, 2017

#DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/MZn16EqHTq
— Tara Wratten (@tarawrat) September 22, 2017

Strictly not at a polling station, but here are some dogs on the steps of Parliament, where the successful candidates will end up.

I know I can't tell you who to vote for, but... #decision17 pic.twitter.com/KhsF2zVA8z
— (@davejac) September 22, 2017

And this little piggy went to exercise his democratic rights.

Photo: Supplied / Brian Hainsworth

And here's more of the country's goodest boys (and girls) heading to the polls.

Supplied / @CnrJoe

Meg and her friend Joe race to the polls. Supplied / @mizjwilliams

This fellow seems to be taking hair-styling tips from politicians of yesteryear. Supplied / @SueyHopey

While someone else has taken fashion inspiration from Parliament's sheepskin-covered Speaker's chair. Supplied / @rmwatson_M

Foley has his own style of en-roll-ment. Supplied / @TroyRF

Ted's voting for more treats. Supplied / @AmesburyCassie

Supplied / Jacqui Virtue

Poised and ready to vote in Ngaio, Wellington. Supplied / @kentkiwi59

Supplied / @simiananderson

Rosie's exercised her democratic rights. Supplied / @thetablenz

This tiny fluffball is sporting the day's hottest accessory. Supplied / @WendyWings

Grub the Border Terrier went to Waterloo School in Lower Hutt to vote for more treats. Supplied / @Ptrfrs

These three good boys are holding a pawlitical meeting. Supplied / @edufk

Someone is very keen to get that vote cast. Supplied / @ChrisKeall

Mickey doesn't mind a stroll to the polls. Supplied / johnanthonynz

Macintosh the Westie has cast his vote. Supplied / Billy Apple

Here is Frieda pointing people in the right direction at Brooklyn Community Centre, Wellington. Supplied / Lara Connolly

Vote! By order of Rambo. Supplied / @kjhallum

Frankie queues at the polling booth. Supplied / @lisey_loo

Jess Dog was disappointed to discover she couldn't join her humans in the voting booth. Supplied / @jkhollis

Tongues are out and voting's in. Supplied / @GeorgeJSim

It has been a lovely day for voting, so lovely that Penny at Shirley Primary, Christchurch East took shelter. Supplied / Lee Williams

Hope the schnauzer waited patiently outside Stonefield's school, Auckland while her pawerents cast their vote. Supplied / Hope Balmer

This pupper's eyes match the voting sign. Supplied / Tim Denee

It's much easier to walk your dog to a polling booth than it is to herd a mercurial feline, so voters are also posting photos of #catsnotatpollingstations.

Remus, the catfather, says vote or else. Supplied / @EvaCorlett

Supplied / @Ellen_F

Lotte was so excited about democracy she woke her owners up at 6am and has been pacing the house in anticipation ever since. Supplied / kirsty_johnston

Piggly set up New Zealand's smallest polling booth in the lounge. Supplied / Jesperooo

Cally was not impressed with attempts to get her to wear the sticker. Supplied / @venzann

Nutmeg's first election. Too easy, she reckons. Supplied / alliozz

"I didn't have the courage to tell he wasn't old enough to vote," says @buzzandhum. Supplied

Indie wishes she could go to a polling station. Supplied / @rarahsobson

And Maverick is very put out at being left behind, too. Supplied / @alanaroughan

This is Poppy. She's 18 months old, like meat, cuddles and democracy. Supplied / @AnushaBradley

Sugar's just not sure about any of this. Supplied / @davidslack

George made sure to coordinate his outfit. Supplied / @IMEmmaSmart

Buttons and her best friend Pink Hippo, Supplied / @WellyChelle

This tabby would rather just sleep Election Day away...

Cat not bothered by all this voting business #catsnotatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/A1L1iQ4g69
— Karen McEldowney (@C7Design) September 22, 2017

...while Paris is much too busy redecorating.

Paris only cares about getting as much floof on the floor as possible, none of this crazy voting business. #CatsNotAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/KEBfk3jwsX
— Angela Findlay (@confluencekid) September 22, 2017

And finally, these two were too chicken to vote.