Campaign to increase Māori Roll in 2018 through the Māori Option

A campaign to increase the number of Māori seats will be held in 2018, during the Māori Option.

The group, Te Ata Tino Toa, is leading the charge on the 150th anniversary of the setting up of the Māori seats - 10 October 2017.

The campaign will promote the ability to increase the number of Māori seats through an increase in the Māori Roll.

‘The Māori roll just passed a huge milestone – there are now a quarter of a million of us on the roll,’ says Te Ata Tino Toa chair Teanau Tuiono. ‘Māori voters are voting with their feet by joining the Māori roll.’

The campaign will reach out to several groups of Māori voters:

- Those that can switch from the general to the Māori roll.

- Voters that are turning 17 and 18 during the option.

- Voters that are unaware that being on the Māori roll will help to increase the number of Māori seats.

‘We want the roll to be the place to be. Our campaign will be part promotion and part education. It’s about the potential of the seats and where our people can take them.’

The Maori Option is a time that we can do this.

The seats are set up on 10 October 1867:

https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/33905/maori-representation- act-1867

Māori roll hits 250,000:

http://www.elections.org.nz/research-statistics/maori- enrolment-statistics- electorate

ENDS

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