Māori election option closed

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Nearly 1800 voters of Māori descent have changed electoral rolls either to or from Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.

The Māori electoral option closed on July 13 with 912 voters moving from the general roll to Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, and 889 voters shifting from Ikaroa-Rāwhiti to the general roll.

Another 222 new voters registered to vote in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission.

Across the nation between March 31 and July 13, nearly 40,000 voters of Māori descent changed rolls, enrolled for the first time, or updated their details.

14,587 voters changed roll types, 8109 from the general roll to the Māori roll, and 6478 from the Māori roll to the general roll.

There were 2133 new enrolments on the Māori roll and 1108 new enrolments on the general roll.

Another 22,136 voters of Māori descent didn’t change rolls, but updated their details, for example their address.

“We’re now in that three-month period when you can’t change between the Māori and general rolls before the election,” said chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne  “If you’re Māori and enrolled to vote, the roll you’re on now is the roll you will be on for the 2023 General Election on October 14.”