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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Registration of electors - Updating of electoral rolls

89DA: Updating Māori option details

You could also call this:

"Changing which Māori electoral roll you are on"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

You will get information from the Electoral Commission about the Māori option. They must send this to you by 30 April 2023 or by 31 March in other years when Parliament is due to end. You will also get this information before a local government election. The Electoral Commission can send you this information in any way they think is suitable. They must tell you which electoral district you are in and that you can change it. They must also give you a form or tell you how to use an electronic medium to exercise the Māori option. The Electoral Commission may give you more information about the differences between electoral districts. They can send you information about exercising the Māori option under section 76 and about section 78B. You can exercise the Māori option at any time, except as provided in sections 78A to 78C.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS830026.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Government and voting > ElectionsMāori affairs > Treaty of Waitangi
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89D: Inquiry to be made to update electoral rolls, or

"Checking and updating the electoral roll to ensure your details are correct"

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Part 5Registration of electors
Updating of electoral rolls

89DAUpdating Māori option details

  1. The Electoral Commission must send to Māori electors information about the exercise of the Māori option, if practicable, not later than—

  2. 30 April 2023; and
    1. 31 March in any other year in which Parliament is due to expire.

      1. The Electoral Commission must send to Māori electors information about the exercise of the Māori option not less than 3 months before the commencement of a local government election period under section 78B.

      2. The information required to be sent to Māori electors under subsections (1) and (2) may be sent by any means that the Electoral Commission considers appropriate and—

      3. must inform the elector that they are currently registered in a Māori electoral district or a General electoral district (whichever applies); and
        1. must inform the elector that they are entitled to—
          1. exercise the Māori option under section 76 at any time other than as provided in sections 78A to 78C; and
            1. change the type of electoral district in which they are registered; and
            2. must include a form or information about an approved electronic medium to use to exercise the Māori option; and
              1. may give information about the differences between the 2 types of electoral districts that the Electoral Commission considers would be useful.

                Notes
                • Section 89DA: inserted, on , by section 9 of the Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Act 2022 (2022 No 62).
                • Section 89DA(3)(b)(ii): amended, on , by section 68 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).