First-time voters

Francisco Hernandez

Politics student Francisco Hernandez says his first-time vote will go to the party best able to manage the economy, should it be elected to power.

Mr Hernandez listed management of the New Zealand economy as his "most pressing" election issue, followed closely by how the respective political parties viewed the contentious issue of voluntary student membership.

"I guess it comes down to which political party will have the best credibility to manage the economy," he said of his likely vote.

A Young Labour member and the Otago University Students Association welfare officer for 2012, Mr Hernandez said VSM was an important election issue.

He planned to vote for Labour, given the party had pledged to raise the minimum wage to $15 - a move that would benefit young people and students - while the party had also promised to repeal VSM.

"I think they are the most student-friendly of all the parties," he said.

Aliesha Johnstone

Asset sales and the environment are the high on the voting agenda for first-year legal student Aliesha Johnstone.

However, the first-time voter acknowledged she was light on the specific details of the respective parties, when it came to deciding which way she would cast her vote on election day.

"Maybe asset sales and the environment are the big issues for me?

The Government response to protect the environment in the Rena crisis wasn't that good."

She would be voting for the Greens on election day, given their backing of the environment.

"I also think they seem the best for students, although they'll probably have to side with Labour to be in Government."

Miss Johnstone was not enamoured of the Labour Party being elected to power and singled out leader Phil Goff for special mention.

"I hate Phil Goff, so I wouldn't vote for Labour," she said.