Electoral Populations Calculated: 2001

Two Additional Electoral Districts

When the Representation Commission meets to draw new electoral boundaries, two additional electoral districts will be created, Government Statistician Brian Pink stated today.

The electoral population calculations show an increase in the number of Mäori electoral districts from six to seven, and in the number of North Island General electoral districts from 45 to 46. The number of General electoral districts in the South Island is fixed at 16.

As a consequence there would be two fewer list seats in a 120-member Parliament, a reduction from 53 to 51, noted Mr Pink.

The Mäori electoral population has been calculated to be 371,690, sufficient for seven Mäori electoral districts. The proportion of Mäori choosing to register on the Mäori roll increased to 55 per cent at the end of the 2001 Mäori option, almost 2 per cent above the proportion recorded at the end of the 1997 Mäori option. An increase to nearly 61 per cent of Mäori on the Mäori roll would have been needed for an eighth Mäori electoral district. The electoral calculations are based on a Mäori descent population of 671,293.

The average size (or quota) of electoral districts will be 53,099 people for Mäori districts, 54,308 people for South Island General districts and 54,296 people for North Island General districts.

All current Mäori electoral districts are well in excess of their quota, because of the 10 per cent increase in the Mäori electoral population. In addition, the electoral populations in 26 of the current 61 General electoral districts are no longer within the 5 per cent tolerance allowed in the Electoral Act, when boundaries are redrawn.

The General electoral population of the current Manukau East district exceeds the quota by the largest percentage (22 per cent), followed by the Albany district which exceeds the quota by 19 per cent.

The General electoral population of the current East Coast district is below the quota by the largest percentage (14 per cent), followed by the Taranaki-King Country district which is 9 per cent below quota.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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