General roll or Māori roll?

An electoral roll is a list of voters enrolled in an electorate.

An electorate is a voting area for general elections. Every place in New Zealand is covered by both a general electorate and a Māori electorate.

Currently, there are 7 Māori electorates and 65 general electorates.

The voters in each electorate choose a member of Parliament to represent them.

If you choose the general roll, you’ll vote for a candidate in a general electorate.

If you choose the Māori roll, you’ll vote for a candidate in a Māori electorate.

You can vote for the same list of political parties whichever roll you’re on.

If you’re not sure which roll to choose, talking it over with friends and whānau might help.

When you’ve made your choice, remember that enrolling only takes 5 minutes and you can do it online.

Enrol now

Example

If you live in Gisborne and you choose the Māori roll, you’ll vote in the Māori electorate of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. The candidate who wins the most votes in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate will be your local member of Parliament.

If you choose the general roll instead, you’ll vote in the general electorate of East Coast. The candidate who wins the most votes in the East Coast electorate will be your local member of Parliament.

Every 5 years, the number of Māori electorates is worked out using results from the population census and the Māori Electoral Option.

What is the Māori Electoral Option?

The number of Māori on the Māori roll could mean the number of Māori electorates increases, decreases or stays the same.

Your choice will also help decide the boundaries of Māori and general electorates.

How are electoral boundaries decided?

The roll you choose may affect the way you vote in local elections.

If you’re on the Māori roll and your local authority has a Māori ward or constituency, you’ll vote for a candidate in the Māori ward.

What are local elections? 

From 31 March, you will be able to change roll types at any time, except:

• in the 3 months before a general election
• in the 3 months before the local elections which are held every 3 years
• before a parliamentary by-election if the change would move you into the electorate where the by-election is being held.

In 2023, you'll be able to change the roll you're on from 31 March until midnight 13 July. You'll also be able to change rolls after the 2023 General Election on 14 October.

We will have more information about how to change rolls on our website closer to 31 March.

If you were taken off the Māori or general roll before the last Māori Electoral Option started in April 2018, you can choose which roll to be on when you re-enrol.

Re-enrol now

If you’ve been taken off the Māori or general roll since April 2018, you’ll go back on that same roll when you re-enrol.

Check your enrolment details to find out which roll you were on

If you need to find out whether you can make your choice now, call 0800 36 76 56.