By-election plan in place

The Electoral Commission is preparing to deliver a by-election in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate on Saturday, June 29.

"This by-election is to select a new local Member of Parliament for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate," said chief electoral officer Robert Peden. "In a by-election, people have only one vote - for their electorate MP. There is no party vote."

The Electoral Commission expects to provide about 110 polling places across the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate, which extends from the top of East Cape across to Waikaremoana, down through Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and most of the Hutt Valley.

"It is important to remember that only those who are enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti Maori electorate are entitled to vote in the by-election," said Mr Peden.

Those enrolled will receive voting packs on June 22.

Voting places will only be available inside the electorate on election day. Voters unable to vote at a voting place in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate on June 29 will be able to vote at an advance voting place before election day, and postal voting may be available for those unable to get to a voting place.

Advance voting and voting from overseas will start on Wednesday, June 12.

Information about where to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from June 5.

"We will be working in the community to ensure voters enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate know that the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote," said Mr Peden.

A result will be announced on July 10.

To enrol, freetext your name and address to 3676, go to www.elections.org.nz, visit any PostShop or call 0800 36 76 56.

Voters can also check and update their details at www.elections.org.nz.