We get to do our democratic right tomorrow and vote in the General Election. The weather forecast is for rotten weather tomorrow and that can often impact on voter turnout. Early voting seems to be gaining in popularity lately, and I did suggest that we go and vote a couple of days early. But no….. in Robin’s view it should be done on “the day”. Fair enough. Did you know that New Zealand women were the first in the world to be given the right to vote? Kate Sheppard is recognised as the leader of the fight to win the right for New Zealand women to be allowed to vote. She and other pioneering women campaigned so effectively that in 1893 New Zealand became the first self-governing nation in the world to grant the vote to all women over 21.
It’s not just in little old New Zealand that has electioneering fever. I’ve always maintained that we would never go for a holiday in Fiji since the Military Coup in 2006 overthrew their government. Perhaps I’ll have to rethink any future travel plans now that people finally got a chance to vote.
And on the other side of the world Scotland is in turmoil while the population decide whether to go for independence or remain as part of the United Kingdom. I have Scottish blood in my veins, courtesy of my maternal grand-dad who was born and bred in Glasgow. Travelling through Scotland some years ago felt just like coming home to me – just loved it all, the stone buildings, the landscape, and the history. Grand-dad Wilson emigrated to New Zealand as a young man, ending up in Martinborough where he met my Grandmother, a young widow with three daughters.
So there is a lot going on, the numbers will start rolling in soon, and all kinds of experts will be giving their views and analysis on TV and the newspapers. Then we can all get back to normal.
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