Voters urged to enrol for by-election

Hone Harawira. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Voters who want to have a say in the Te Tai Tokerau by-election should make sure they are enrolled by next Wednesday, the Electoral Commission says.

The by-election comes after MP Hone Harawira quit the Maori Party in February and continued as an independent until he resigned from Parliament last week, saying he wanted to seek a mandate in the electorate as leader of the new Mana Party if he won.

Registrar of Electors Stephen Hansen said only people registered on the Maori roll for the Te Tai Tokerau electorate would be able to vote in the by-election.

Voters needed to enure they were enrolled by May 25, a month before the June 25 by-election.

Those who were correctly enrolled by then would receive a voting information pack in the mail a week before the by-election.

"We're encouraging people to enrol or update their details as soon as possible to ensure they can have their say, both in the Te Tai Tokerau by-election and in the general election and referendum later this year," Mr Hansen said.

The Maori Party over the weekend called for nominations for candidates to contest the by-election, with nominations closing on Friday.

Labour has confirmed its candidate Kelvin Davis would contest the by-election but National isn't putting forward a candidate.

- NZPA