Elections: Maori Electoral Option starts next month

Time to choose whether to be on the Maori roll or General roll. Photo/File

Maori voters will have the chance to choose whether they are on the Maori on general roll when the 2018 Maori Electoral Option starts next month.

The option runs from April 3 to August 2.

Information packs will be sent in early April to voters who identified as Maori when they enrolled.

The pack includes a letter confirming which electoral roll they are on and give them the option to change roll types.

Electoral Commission enrolment and community engagement national manager Mandy Bohte said it was an important choice for Maori voters.

"It decides whether they will be on the Maori or general roll for the next two general elections. Now is your time to choose."

Voters on the Maori roll vote for a candidate in a Maori electorate and voters on the general roll vote for a candidate in a general electorate.

Whichever roll a voter is on, they choose from the same list of political parties when casting their party vote.

The results of the 2018 Census and the Maori Electoral Option will help determine the number of Maori and general electorates for the next two general elections.

The option was launched last Saturday at the Tai Tokerau Kapa Haka festival in Whangarei.

Social media personalities William Waiirua, Stacey Morrison, Tawaroa Kawana and Puawai Taiapa are lending their voices to the campaign.

"Electoral Commission teams will be at events like the Kapa Haka regionals over the next four months as part of a kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) campaign to spread the word about the option," Bohte said.

For more information go to www.maorioption.org.nz.