Editorial: Maori need to vote

Christina Diamond (left) and Deidre Monga are helping to get more Maori to vote in this year's general election. Photo/Ben Fraser

A new group aimed at getting more Maori to vote in this year's general election should be applauded.

Today we report on the group called Vote Maori Vote which is pushing to get more Maori to polling booths come election day on September 20.

The rate of Maori voters is dropping with only 60 per cent of the eligible Maori voters voting in the Waiariki electorate three years ago. That compared with nearly 75 per cent in the Rotorua general roll.

Vote Maori Vote says it has no alliance with any political parties - it just wants to see more Maori having their say.

If that happens, alliance will no doubt be better for left-wing parties.

If after this year's elections, there's no improvement in our voting statistics, it's time our country looked at compulsory voting.

During the past decade, overall voter turnout has fallen from 89 per cent in 1981 to 69 per cent in 2011, with Maori rates even lower.

Even chief electoral officer Robert Peden said compulsory voting needed to be looked at.

Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta has this week made a fresh call for compulsory voting.

While it could be seen as a desperate measure from the struggling left, it makes sense.

Too many people take voting for granted and only bother if they feel like it.

General apathy seems to set in and for some reason they think their votes don't count.

If we can't raise the voter turnout through groups like Vote Maori Vote - and dare I say it, party mergers like we've seen this week between Mana and Internet - then it's time to look at our laws.