Young Aucklanders sluggish in record enrolment

Voter enrolment rates are the highest in three elections. About 2.8 million people - or 94 per cent - of the total eligible population have enrolled to vote as at August 17.

This compares with 92 per cent enrolled at the corresponding time in 2002, and 89 per cent in 1999.

The Auckland Central electorate has the lowest enrolment rate in the country, with just 67.7 per cent of an estimated 67,300 people registering to vote. The biggest culprits are the young, with nearly 60 per cent of the electorate's 14,200 18- to 24-year-olds not enrolled.

South Island electorate Aoraki, which includes Timaru, has the highest enrolment rate at 101.85 per cent. The total number of enrolled voters, at 41,759, has exceeded the total estimated eligible population of 41,000.

The number of overseas voters and the number of Maori enrolled have also gone up. About 30,000 more voters now identify themselves as being of Maori descent, bringing the total to 371,300, with 204,500 of them on the Maori roll.

The number of enrolled overseas voters is also up, by 11 per cent to 39,500 since the enrolment campaign started in May.

Enrolment centre manager Murray Wicks said those enrolled by August 17 made it on to the printed electoral rolls used on election day.

"We are pleased that so many New Zealanders have taken action already to enrol."

People can still enrol or update their details until September 16. But they will have to cast a special declaration vote on election day.

For an enrolment form, call 0800 36-76-56, freetext your name and address to 3676, drop in to any PostShop or visit Elections.org.nz (see link below). Your details can also be updated on the website.