Sunday 2 April 2006

380,000 Maori Electoral Option Packs In The Mail

Almost 380,000 orange Maori Electoral Option packs will be delivered to households across the country from tomorrow (Monday April 3) – the first day of the 2006 Maori Electoral Option.

"Everyone enrolled to vote, who has identified themselves as of Maori descent, regardless of whether they are on the Maori or General roll, will be sent their personalised Maori Electoral Option pack in the mail from Monday," says Murray Wicks, National Manager of the Electoral Enrolment Centre.

"If you're already enrolled check your Maori Electoral Option pack, and fill it in if you want to change from the General roll to the Maori roll or from the Maori roll to the General roll.

"If you're happy with the type of electoral roll you are on, don't do anything.

"You can also use your Maori Electoral Option form to update any of your personal enrolment details."

If people receive a pack for someone who no longer lives at the address, the envelope should be forwarded on or marked 'return to sender' and posted back.

"If you don't get a pack it means you're not correctly enrolled to vote. All you need to do is fill in an enrolment form, and that's easy," says Mr Wicks.

To get an enrolment form freetext your name and address to 3676, call 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or go to any PostShop. You can also enrol or update your details online at www.elections.org.nz

"We are urging as many Maori as possible to take part in the 2006 Maori Electoral Option and tell their whanau about what to do as well," says Mr Wicks.

"This is the only chance Maori already enrolled will get for another six years to choose whether to be on the General or Maori Electoral Roll. There are two more general elections scheduled to be held before then."

ENDS

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