Results for the Māori roll option are in, with just 5 percent of Māori deciding to change rolls.
Slightly more Māori decided to move to the general roll than joined the Māori roll. The general roll saw a net increase of 4015 Māori voters, while the Māori roll saw a net increase of 1200.
What you need to know
- 95 percent of Māori did not change rolls
- 52 percent of Māori are now on the Māori roll
- 48 percent of Māori are now on the general roll
- Those of Māori descent can choose to be on the Māori or general roll, usually after a census is taken
The change is only by a fraction of a percentage point. At the end of the Option, 52.4 percent of Māori voters were on the Māori roll and 47.6 percent were on the general roll, compared with 52.8 percent and 47.2 percent at the start of the Option period.
"Of those who opted to change rolls, more moved from the Māori roll to the general roll, and when it came to new enrolments, more opted for the Māori roll," Mandy Bohté, National Manager for Enrolment and Community Engagement said.
The number of Māori voters on the Māori roll helps determine the number of Māori electorates. In basic terms, more voters on the Māori roll means more electorates.
The number of Māori and general electorates is due to be released in March 2019. After the number is released, the Representation Commission will determine the electorate boundaries for the 2020 and 2023 elections.
Following the census, Māori voters are usually given the option to change between the general roll and the Māori roll.
In the 2017 election, Labour won all seven Māori electorates, forcing the Māori Party out of Parliament.
Newshub.
