Pacific politician to youth - get out and vote!

Seasoned politician Auckland Councillor Josephine Bartley made no secret of feeling slightly nervous, taking to the podium at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland on 2 October.

Councillor Bartley was back on familiar ground as an alumna of the University delivering a guest lecture for Pacific Studies course The Contemporary Pacific. Course lecturer Dr Sarah McLean-Orsborn says inviting Councillor Bartley was ideal, as the first Pacific woman elected to the Auckland City Council in 2018.

“I have always admired Josephine Bartley’s commitment and drive as showcased online, it was invaluable to have her here at the University especially with the local body elections currently underway,” says Dr McLean-Orsborn.

Bartley recalled graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degree, but had to sit her bar exams in Hamilton; her parents eager to keep her away from the distraction of amusement arcades in downtown Auckland. “I was spending too much time down there,” she laughs. But her journey to the corridors of power has been far from straightforward.

“I came from Māngere, so I’m ‘275 OG’,” she joked, drawing cheers from the room. “I grew up there, moved to Wellington in 2000, came back in 2006. My mum was living in Pt England - I’d never heard of it before! It’s got a beach, it’s got palm trees, but we lived in the shittiest house on the nicest street.

“But that’s how I got to know Tāmaki, and I’ve been there ever since.”

Why aren’t our people represented?

Bartley’s turning point came in 2010 when Auckland became a supercity.
“I looked around and thought, why aren’t the people who live here represented in decision-making? Some were shy, some didn’t feel like they could do the role, others just wanted to work and study. So, I put myself forward for the local board.”

She showed students a photo of the then board, Bartley one of two Māori and Pacific people among predominantly Pālagi faces.

“It took until 2018 to get the first Pacific woman on the Council - me. And that’s despite almost 300,000 Pacific people in New Zealand.”

Bartley used her lecture to educate students about the dynamics of power - and the power that they as young people hold, but rarely use.

“Young people make up one-third of Auckland’s population, but they’re not voting. That means decisions are being made without their voices or their future in mind.

“Voting is one way to take action - because the decisions made at Council affect your daily life: buses, libraries, sports, community events, climate action, water, waste.”

She laid out what was at stake for the future, emphasising the worrying trend of low voter turnout at local body elections, especially among Pacific peoples.

“The students who protested on climate action are right - there is no Plan B. Change comes from you. One way to take action is to vote.”

Third-year student Cyrus Meredith Melhuish, a political studies major says he hoped the Auckland Councillor’s presence would spur people into action.

“I’m really enjoying this paper and hearing directly from Councillor Josephine Bartley was great, especially when she talked about why it’s important to vote. I think that’s really important for our Pacific people and young people to hear,” he says.

Pacific communities have historically had some of the lowest participation rates in local body elections. In Auckland’s Ōtara-Papatoetoe ward, turnout was just 22% in 2022, down from 27% in 2016. Across the city, overall turnout in 2022 was 35.4%, and early figures suggest 2025 is tracking at a similar rate.

In Bartley’s own Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward, turnout was 31.6% in 2022, down from 34% in 2019 and 37% in 2016.

“If you don’t vote, others will make decisions for you. Representation matters - not just for now, but for the future,” Bartley told the class.

Bartley also spoke about the personal cost of public life, despite breaking barriers and making history, online trolling has become a constant feature of her life.

“I’ve been attacked online, even my aunt was approached while walking my dog Milo - who’s now more famous than me!” Milo, her beloved Shih Tzu, has his own fan following on TikTok and Instagram, often featuring in campaign videos and community updates.

Back to the future

Bartley was in awe taking in the transformation of the campus since her time as an undergraduate student almost 30 years ago. She marvelled at Hiwa, the University’s new recreation centre, recalling the earlier dated version, where many Pacific students utilised the bleachers as an unofficial meeting space.

“I can’t get over this, it’s such a beautiful space.”

She thanked Dr Sarah McLean-Orsborn for the invitation to lecture, and also acknowledged Associate Professor Dr Gordon Nanau and tutors Iatua Felagai Taito and Fang Tuigamala for the warm welcome.

“I’ve never done this before but it was so good to hear the students’ voices and their questions.”