2006 Māori Electoral Option resource kit
The Māori Electoral Option will run from Monday April 3 to Wednesday August 2 2006.
The Māori Electoral Option is held as close as possible to the Census of Population and Dwellings.
The option gives New Zealand Māori the chance to review and change, if necessary, the electoral roll type they are currently enrolled on. All Māori who are already enrolled to vote, or have let their enrolment lapse, or haven’t enrolled yet have the choice of being enrolled on either the Māori roll or the general roll.
The number of Māori who choose to be on the Māori roll has an impact on the number of Māori and general electorates there are for the next two general elections.
On Monday, April 3, all Māori currently enrolled to vote will be sent their personalised Māori electoral option pack in the mail.
Eligible, but not enrolled, Māori can choose their electoral roll type by filling in an enrolment form.
If someone wants to change the roll type they are on they need to:
- check their details on the form inside the pack and correct them if needed
- print the roll type they want to change to – Māori or general
- sign and date the form and send it back.
A national advertising and publicity campaign will run from April to August to raise awareness of the Māori Electoral Option and what to do to get involved.
A key aspect of the campaign is a nationwide ‘kanohi ki te kanohi’ (face-to-face) liaison programme. This will involve the kanohi ki te kanohi team making presentations at hui, working with key organisations to enlist their support and approaching Māori in places such as shopping malls, workplaces and marae.
This programme will be supplemented by registrars of electors who will be active in their areas, targeting local people and encouraging community groups to help spread information about the Māori Electoral Option.
The next opportunity following this year’s Māori Electoral Option for Māori to change roll types will be in 2012.
Key facts
- The first four separate Māori electorates were established in 1867, initially as a temporary measure.
- When New Zealand introduced MMP in 1993, the law was changed so that the number of Māori electorates depended, in part, on the choices made by Māori in the Māori electoral option.
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Since 1993, the number of Māori electorates has grown steadily;
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- 1993 general election 4 Māori electorates
- 1996 general election 5 Māori electorates
- 1999 general election 6 Māori electorates
- 2002/2005 general elections 7 Māori electorates
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- The choices Māori make in the 2006 option will impact on the number of Māori and general electorates for the 2008 and 2011 general elections.
- If more Māori enrol on the Māori roll, there could be more Māori electorates. If more Māori enrol on the general roll, there could be more general electorates.
The following shows examples of how the number of Māori electorates could change as a result of this year’s Māori Electoral Option.
Number of Māori electorates
All figures are estimates only based on 2001 Census information.
13 Māori electorates
-
All Māori enrol on the Māori electoral roll
8 Māori electorates
(an increase of 1 electorate)
-
About 14,100 Māori change roll type from the general roll to the Māori roll
OR
About 34,000 Māori enrolling for the first time enrol on the Māori roll
6 Māori electorates
(a decrease of 1 electorate)
-
About 17,000 Māori change roll type from the Māori roll to the general roll
OR
About 33,000 Māori enrolling for the first time enrol on the general roll
Approximately 378,000 people who identify themselves as Māori are currently enrolled to vote. 208,000 are on the Māori roll and 170,000 on the general roll.
- In addition, there are some 19,000 Māori on the Māori dormant roll and some 12,000 people who have identified themselves as Māori on the general dormant roll.
NB: The dormant roll contains previously enrolled electors who have changed address within the last 3-years and not updated their enrolment details.
2006 Māori electoral option key dates
10 March
Face-to-face liaison with Māori begins
Late March
Pre-awareness advertising starts
3 April
Māori Electoral Option packs sent to Māori currently enrolled on the Māori roll or the general roll who have identified themselves as Māori
14 June
Reminder cards sent to electors
2 August
Māori Electoral Option closes
Early February 2007
Number of Māori and general electorates announced
Early Feb - Sept 2007
Electoral boundaries redrawn
Ngā rā hira o te kōwhiringa Māori
10 Poutū-te-rangi
Ka tīmata te mahi takawaenga me te iwi Māori, kanohi ki te kanohi
Ngā rā whakamutunga o Poutū-te-rangi
Ka tīmata te pānuitanga hei whakamōhio i te iwi
3 Paenga-whāwhā
Tukua ai ngā mōkihi Kōwhiringa Māori ki te hunga kei runga i te Rārangi Ingoa Pōti Māori, me ērā kei runga i te Rārangi Ingoa Pōti Whānui kua kī mai he Māori rātou.
14 Pīpiri
Tukua ai ki ngā kaipōti he kāri whakamahara
2 Here-turi-kōkā
Ka mutu te Kōwhiringa Māori
Ngā rā tōmua o Hui-tanguru 2007
Ka whākina te nui o ngā Rohe Pōti Māori me ngā Rohe Pōti Whānui
Ngā rā tōmua o Hui-tanguru 2007 – Mahuru 2007
Ka tuhia ngā rohe pōti hou
Questions and answers
[377 Māori Electoral Option FAQ]
Relevant resources
[344 ]
2006 Māori Electoral Option resource kit
[396 History of Māori and the vote]