NZ Election YouTube channel a one-stop shop for election video

Google has launched an official YouTube channel for the 2014 New Zealand General Election at www.youtube.co.nz/newzealandvotes.

With more New Zealanders turning to YouTube every year for news and information, the channel brings together video such as election news and commentary, party political broadcasts and related video from across the web.

A recent report from NZ on Air found that nearly half of Kiwis watch online media such as YouTube at least once a week, with younger audiences more likely to do so than their older counterparts.

Youtube stats show the most-watched video posted by a political party so far during the 2014 election campaign is the Green Party’s advertisement featuring Rawiri Paratene with more than 45,000 views.

ACT NZ’s candidate video of David Seymour has managed to stay in second place after gaining widespread notoriety on social media. Labour’s Opening Address comes in third with just over 21,000 views.

Google’s Annie Baxter says political leaders and candidates from across the spectrum are increasingly using video to get their messages to voters.

“Having videos from different parties and candidates in one place will help people make an informed decision when they get to the voting booth on 20 September,” Baxter says.

The channel will be updated daily as the campaign progresses. Official party channels are featured, and the channel also features thematic video playlists on key election issues.

For more information see www.youtube.co.nz/newzealandvotes