2025 marks 50 years of the Māori Electoral Option, which is the choice for Māori between the Māori roll and the general roll.
The Electoral Amendment Act, passed in 1975, defined Māori as a person of New Zealand Māori descent. It means anyone who is Māori has the option of enrolling to vote on either roll.
Before 1975 your electoral roll was determined by the percentage of Māori blood you were deemed to have.
As a result of the law change, Māori who were enrolled to vote could change from the Māori roll to the general roll or general roll to Māori roll during a 4-month period after the Census known as the Māori Electoral Option.
The 50th anniversary is part of New Zealand’s official commemorations programme under the theme Mana Māori Motuhake | Māori rights and representation.
Commemorations programme 2023–2027 (Ministry of Culture and Heritage)
Other law changes
Since 1975 there have been other law changes affecting the Māori Electoral Option and Māori representation in Parliament.
The Electoral Act 1993 linked the number of Māori electorates to population and Māori roll data, resulting in an increase in the number of Māori electorates.
In 2022 legislation was passed creating a continuous option. Instead of a 4-month Option period, Māori who are enrolled to vote can now change rolls at any time except in the three months before an election.
About the Option
More on the history of the Option
Ngā māngai – Māori representation - Effect of Māori seats (Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand)
Māori and the vote – change in the 20th century (NZ History)
Resources to share
A logo has been designed that can be used by the public and communities to mark the 50th anniversary of the Māori Electoral Option.
50 years of the Māori Electoral Option (JPG, 160KB)
50 years of the Māori Electoral Option (JPG, 763KB)
Logo guidelines
The minimum size of the logo is 20mm for print and 55px for digital. Clear legibility of the logo is essential.
The logo requires set clear space. This is measured as the height of the ‘O’ in ‘PŌTI’. It increases or decreases proportionally, according to the size of the logo.