The 4-month 2001 Ma¯ori Electoral Option closed on Wednesday 1 August 2001 with a significant increase in the total number of new Ma¯ori enrolments. 18,574 new Ma¯ori enrolments were received; 40.9% more than in the last Option in 1997.

New Zealand Post’s Electoral Enrolment Centre National Manager Murray Wicks said today that 37,312 Ma¯ori electors had taken the opportunity to enrol or change roll type. A breakdown shows that 13,872 Ma¯ori electors changed from the General roll to the
Ma¯ori roll; 4,866 from the Ma¯ori roll to the General roll; 15,138 new enrolments on the Ma¯ori roll; and 3,436 new electors who have identified themselves as Ma¯ori on the General roll.

The final enrolment figures have been provided to the Government Statistician who will calculate the number of Ma¯ori and General electoral seats for the next Parliament. These final calculations are scheduled for release by the Government Statistician in mid September.

Following the Government Statistician’s announcement the Surveyor-General will determine provisional names and boundaries for each General and Ma¯ori electoral district. This information will be used by the Representation Commission who will call for public submissions prior to final electorate names and boundaries being proclaimed in April 2002.

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