Time running out for Māori to change rolls
Voters of Māori descent who would like to change electoral rolls before the election have one more week to make their choice.
If you are Māori, you choose between the Māori roll and general roll when you first enrol to vote. After that you can change rolls at any time except in the three months before an election.
“The deadline to change electoral rolls is midnight 6 August. You can’t change rolls in the three months before the 2026 General Election on 7 November,” says Hone Matthews, Chief Advisor Māori.
“We sent a letter to voters of Māori descent in April and have followed up with email and text reminders. Thousands have taken the opportunity to change rolls, enrol, or update their address on the electoral roll.
“If you are happy with the roll you’re on, kei te pai. If you would like to change rolls before the election, you need to do it now,” says Hone Matthews.
The quickest way to check your details or change your roll is online at vote.nz using your New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity.
Between 31 March and 26 July for voters of Māori descent:
- 6039 people changed from the general roll to the Māori roll
- 6212 people changed from the Māori roll to the general roll
- There were 4418 new enrolments on the Māori roll
- There were 2663 new enrolments on the general roll
- 20,747 people took the opportunity to update their details, for example their address, but didn’t change rolls.