We're six months out and the race to win the nation's votes is ticking down!

The 2023 General Election is on Saturday, October 14 – meaning voters will need to make up their minds in coming months on who they want to run the country for the next three years.

Already this year there's been a few political shakeups with former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigning from the role in January after six years at the helm and handing the mantle to Chris Hipkins to lead the nation and try to bring another election victory to Labour.

So who will Aotearoa choose to lead the country from October 14? The Sun took to Mount Maunganui's Main St to see how Bay of Plenty residents think the political parties are tracking heading to the October election.

Protest vote

Mount Maunganui man Doug Hannan will be definitely be casting his vote come October 14, and it might be in protest to the current Labour Government too. 'Normally I'd be a Labour voter – but there's a lot of things that they haven't done that I'm not happy with,” says Doug. 'But there is a new party called the TOP [The Opportunities Party] and they have a lot of things that I find are quite interesting and so I might even make a protest vote and give it to them.”

Debbie Neylon will vote this election and is already set in her decision – no matter what happens in Parliament with the countdown to election. 'I don't really pay any attention…I don't listen because I've already made my mind up, so there won't be any swaying,” says Debbie. Meanwhile, others are still undecided on which way they may vote. 'I haven't made up my mind and I'll probably vote but I'll have to look into it,” says Meg Anderson.

Change needed

Jacob Allum says he doesn't follow politics too much but still shared his thoughts on how he thinks the main political contenders – National and Labour – are doing. 'Neither of them overwhelm me with confidence or joy at the moment,” says Jacob. 'Both leaders just seem to be a bit lacklustre and don't really instil you with confidence. But I'd say I probably feel we need a change but I don't really know if National is the right change. I will vote…I could even end up voting for one of the minor parties for the first time.”

Overseas returnees

Ani Seath, who returned to New Zealand in January after 10 years aboard, says she won't be voting in the election. 'If I don't have to, I won't vote,” says Ani. Her reason? 'I just feel like it's all the same. I guess maybe when I have a little look into it something might stick out.”

Another overseas returnee is Lexi Hamill. 'I've just come back to see family and friends…and I'm not sure what to believe based on the media,” says Lexi. 'If I was to talk to all my ex-colleagues and friends – they're frustrated with all elements of the political parties because of the cost of living, Three Waters, all those sort of things that seem to be fringe things rather than dealing with the state of the country.”

If you are 18 years or older and wanting to vote in 2023's General Election on October 14, you can enrol at: https://vote.nz/