Māori Electoral Option

The Māori Electoral Option is a choice for Māori about which electoral roll to be on: the Māori roll or the general roll.

When can you choose rolls?

If you are Māori, and enrolling to vote for the first time, you choose which electoral roll you want to be on.

You can also change your roll type at any time, except:

in the 3 months before a general election
in the 3 months before local elections which are held every 3 years
before a parliamentary by-election if the change would move you into the electorate where the by-election is being held.

If you’re Māori and enrolling for the first time you can still choose either the Māori roll or the general roll.

What does your choice mean for you?

Your roll choice affects which candidates you can choose from in parliamentary elections and local elections. It also helps determine the number of Māori and general electorates.

He mana tō te kōwhiri – your choice has mana.

Voting in local elections

The roll you choose may affect who you can vote for at local elections.

If you choose the Māori roll, you will vote for candidates in the Ruapehu Māori ward for the 2025 local elections. If you choose the general roll, you will vote for candidates in the Ruapehu General ward.

How to make your choice

If you’re happy with the roll you’re on, you don’t need to do anything. If you want to change the roll you’re on, you can make the change online, by email, or by mail.

Online

You can change rolls online with your New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport, or RealMe verified identity.

If you’re on the unpublished roll, or you don’t have one of the forms of ID listed above, you won’t be able to use the online service. You’ll need to fill in an enrolment form.

Other ways to change

You can change rolls by completing and returning an enrolment form.

You can fill in an enrolment form online, and have it emailed or posted to you to sign and return.
You can call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56 to have an enrolment form sent to you.

Find out which roll you’re on

If you’re not sure which roll you’re on, you can check or update your details online.

Contact the Electoral Commission

For more information about the Māori Electoral Option or about enrolling to vote:

Call 0800 36 76 56
Email [email protected]