For immediate release 17 May 2004

Eligible Voters Urged To Enrol For Te Tai Hauauru By-Election

Eligible electors in the Te Tai Hauauru electorate are being urged to make sure they are correctly enrolled in time to vote in the by-election that will be held on 10 July.

Registrar of Electors Helen Johnson said that only electors registered on the electoral roll for Te Tai Hauauru were able to vote in the by-election.

"People can check to see if they are registered for the electorate at www.elections.org.nz. Updated lists of electors are also available for checking at PostShops, public libraries and courthouses within the Te Tai Hauauru electorate."

Mrs Johnson said that registered electors should check the rolls to ensure that their enrolment details were up to date.

"Anyone who has moved house, changed their name or other details recently should update their enrolment details to make sure these are correct. You can update your details by filling in a new enrolment form."

Enrolment forms are available at PostShops, by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or from www.elections.org.nz. People can check and update their details at the site and can enrol online.

Mrs Johnson said that all eligible electors that were correctly enrolled by 4 June would receive a voting information pack in the mail a week before the 10 July Election day.

"The pack will contain useful information such as a list of polling places and candidates, as well as an EasyVote card for them to take when they vote," Mrs Johnson said.

"We're encouraging people to enrol or update their details as soon as possible to ensure they can have their say on Election day."

Te Tai Hauauru By-Election - Background Information

* A by-election will be held in the Te Tai Hauauru electorate on 10 July.

* To vote in the by-election, eligible electors need be registered on the electoral roll in the Te Tai Hauauru electorate.

* People are eligible to enrol for this electorate if they: * are aged 18 years or older, and * are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and * are a New Zealand Maori or of New Zealand Maori descent, and * have lived in New Zealand for one year or more, and * the last address where they lived for one month or more in New Zealand is in the Te Tai Hauauru electorate - a map of the electorate is available at www.elections.org.nz.

* People cannot enrol in this electorate if they: * are not a New Zealand Maori or of New Zealand Maori descent * are currently registered on the general electoral roll. Electors of Maori descent can next change the electoral roll type they are registered on at the next Maori Electoral Option in 2006 * are a New Zealand citizen that has not been in New Zealand during the last three years * are a permanent resident that has not been in New Zealand during the last 12 months.

* Eligible electors that are correctly enrolled by 4 June will receive a voting information pack in the mail a week before the 10 July Election day. The pack will contain useful information such as a list of polling places and candidates, as well as an EasyVote card for them to take on Election day.

* The last date that people can enrol and vote in the election is 9 July, the day before Election day. If people enrol after 4 June, they will need to cast a special declaration vote, which will take longer.

* Enrolment forms are available at PostShops and public libraries, by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or from www.elections.org.nz. People can check and update their details at the site and can enrol online.

Enrolment information in te reo is available by calling the 0800 number or from the website.

ENDS

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