New Poll: Kiwis reject Opportunity push to raise Youth Court age

New Taxpayers’ Union–Curia polling shows New Zealanders firmly reject extending the Youth Court beyond its current upper age of 17, with 64 percent opposed and just 22 percent in support.

Opportunity is campaigning to raise the Youth Court age, but even its own voters are against it. Three-quarters of Opportunity voters oppose extending the Court to 25, compared with just 10 percent who support it.

Even among 18–39 year olds, 57 percent oppose the proposal and 26 percent support it, and opposition rises to 73 percent among rural voters.

A majority of voters in every party tested reject extending the Youth Court to age 25:

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Opportunity is campaigning for a policy rejected by voters across every party, including three-quarters of its own supporters.

“Adult actions should have adult consequences. There is nothing ‘youth’ about a 24-year-old. If you’re old enough to vote, drink, marry and work full-time, you’re old enough to face the adult justice system.

“When even your own voters think you’ve got it wrong, the sensible thing to do is drop the policy.”