NEWS RELEASE 8 JULY 2004

TE TAI HAUAURU BY-ELECTION – RESPONSE BY CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER

I note that the Tribunal has found that the approach taken in principle by the Chief Electoral Office in determining polling places ''appears to us to be sound'' (page 4).

The Tribunal was not prepared to find that the claim is well-founded. The Tribunal did not find that 406 polling places should be provided as initially sought by Professor Winiata.

The Tribunal did suggest that I reconsider my stance with respect to 19 polling places. I have done so and have decided to make no change. I consider the 100 polling places appointed, together with the provision of advanced voting facilities, will provide a good service to voters and compares favourably with the number of polling places provided in large general electorates (examples attached).

Voters on the Te Tai Hauauru roll have already been sent, in their personal information packs, details of the 100 polling places together with an EasyVote card which we recommend they use when voting on Saturday.

Attachment Polling Places Averages of Electors and Voters 1998/2004

Polling Place Averages of Electors and Voters 1998/2004

Year Area (millions of hectares) Number of Polling Places Number of Electors Number of Voters Average Electors per Polling Place Average Voters per Polling Place
West Coast Tasman 2002 3.7 112 38270 30317 342 271
Clutha Southland 2002 3.6 96 37654 29362 392 306
Te Tai Hauauru 2004 3.0 100 25761 14941 258 149
Otago 2002 2.5 70 40048 32046 572 458
Kaikoura 2002 2.3 76 40124 32292 528 425
East Coast 2002 1.7 76 37573 28857 494 380
Taranaki King Country (By-election) 1998 1.3 110 33352 20684 303 188
Taranaki King Country 2002 1.3 96 37503 28070 391 292
Northland 2002 1.2 98 36770 28637 375 292
Wairarapa 2002 1.2 64 38429 31046 600 485
New Zealand 2002 2823 2670030 2040248 946 723

Note
The number of Te Tai Hauauru voters has been calculated using the 2002 general election turnout level of 58%.

Source: Chief Electoral Office, 8 July 2004 5:00pm

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