Story: Voting rights

The right to vote

The right to vote

The right to vote was not taken for granted by Burmese migrant Naing Koko, shown here in 2008. Koko had been a prisoner of conscience in Burma for campaigning for democracy and the holding of elections. In coming to New Zealand he lost the right to return to his home country. New Zealand had extended the right to vote to permanent residents in 1975.

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New Zealand Herald
Reference: 231008AKLSMNaing1.JPG
Photograph by Steven McNicholl

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Neill Atkinson, 'Voting rights - 20th-century reforms', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/36442/the-right-to-vote (accessed 24 September 2023)

Story by Neill Atkinson, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015