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Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Qualification of electors

77: Exercise of Māori option

You could also call this:

"Choosing which electoral roll to be on if you're Māori"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

If you are Māori and 17 years old, you can choose which electoral roll to be on when you apply to be an elector under section 82(2). You can also make this choice when you apply under section 83. If you are already an elector, you can change which roll you are on at any time by telling the Electoral Commission that you want to switch from a Māori electoral district to a General electoral district, or from a General electoral district to a Māori electoral district.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM308830.

Topics:
Government and voting > ElectionsMāori affairs > Treaty of Waitangi
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76: Māori option, or

"Māori people can choose which type of electoral district they want to be part of."

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78: Process for and effect of exercise of Māori option, or

"How to choose the Māori electoral roll and what happens next"

Part 5Registration of electors
Qualification of electors

77Exercise of Māori option

  1. A Māori who is 17 years old may exercise the Māori option at the time they apply for registration as an elector under section 82(2).

  2. A Māori may exercise the Māori option at the time they apply for registration as an elector under section 83.

  3. A Māori who is registered as an elector may, at any time, exercise the Māori option by advising the Electoral Commission,—

  4. in the case of a person registered as an elector of a Māori electoral district, that they wish to be registered as an elector of a General electoral district:
    1. in the case of a person registered as an elector of a General electoral district, that they wish to be registered as an elector of a Māori electoral district.

      Notes
      • Section 77: replaced, on , by section 6 of the Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Act 2022 (2022 No 62).