Your roll choice affects which candidates you can choose from in parliamentary elections and local elections. It also helps determine the number of Māori and general electorates.
Voting in parliamentary elections and by-elections
The roll you choose decides which electorate you vote in and who you can vote for to represent you in Parliament.
- If you choose the Māori roll, you will vote for a candidate in the Māori electorate you live in.
- If you choose the general roll, you will vote for a candidate in the general electorate you live in.
- You will vote for the same list of political parties in a general election, whichever roll you choose to be on.
For example, if you live in Rotorua and choose the Māori roll you will vote in the Waiariki electorate.
The person who wins the most votes in the Māori electorate of Waiariki will become your local MP.
If you choose the general roll, you will vote in the Rotorua electorate. The person who wins the most votes in the general electorate of Rotorua will become your local MP.
If you’re Māori and enrolling for the first time you can still choose either the Māori roll or the general roll.
Determining the number of Māori and general electorates
The number of Māori on the general and Māori rolls, together with the results of the census, are used to work out the number of general and Māori electorates.
The number of Māori enrolled on the Māori roll could mean the number of Māori electorates increases, decreases, or stays the same for future elections.
The Electoral Commission will provide the number of Māori enrolled on the Māori and general rolls to Stats NZ on 1 April 2024.
Stats NZ will calculate the number of electorates for the 2026 General Election. The Representation Commission will then review the names and boundaries of the electorates.
There are currently seven Māori electorates and 65 general electorates.
How are electoral boundaries decided?
Working out how many electorates there should be
Voting in local elections
The roll you choose may affect who you can vote for at local elections. If you choose the Māori roll, and your local council has a Māori ward or constituency, you will vote for candidates in the Māori ward or constituency. If you choose the general roll, you will vote for candidates in the general ward or constituency.