1. Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
What specific strategies has the Government initiated to improve the voter enrolment rate, given this morning’s reported comments by Kiwi Expat Association Chief Executive, Ivan Moss, who contends that there are about 750,000 missing voters, bringing the estimated enrolment rate down to 79 percent?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice) Link to this
I am advised by the Electoral Enrolment Centre that the figures quoted by Mr Moss are purely speculative. However, there has been an increase in the number of people enrolled overseas compared with the 2005 figures, and a comprehensive enrolment strategy is in place.
What particular strategies will the Minister be undertaking to encourage the Māori population of Australia—estimated to be between 115,000 and 125,000—to vote in the November 2008 election?
As I said, from the announcement of the election date quite a lot of activity is undertaken by the Electoral Enrolment Centre, including sending enrolment update packs to all overseas voters with postal addresses; sending voting information to all those enrolled with a postal address; providing advertising that targets New Zealanders overseas, encouraging them to enrol or to update their enrolment details; and providing information and enrolment forms through overseas posts. We also rely on informal networks of people, including people like the member who has asked the question and other members of this House, to advise friends and relatives overseas to vote if they are eligible.
What does the Minister have to say about the findings of the Te Puni Kōkiri report Ngā Māori i Te Ao Moemoeā, which found that just under half of the 1,600 Māori living in Australia who were surveyed in that report wished to remain as citizens of New Zealand only, and what action has the Government taken to ensure that Māori living in Australia can enjoy that citizenship right?
All New Zealanders born in this country have a citizenship right. That is what most countries have—if one is born in a country, one is allowed a citizenship right. One can have a citizenship right by descent, as well. But if one has no connection with this country by birth, it is a different situation.
What specific strategies will the Minister undertake to ensure that young Māori people aged between 18 and 25 years old, close to 50,000 of whom are estimated not to be enrolled, exercise their democratic right to vote?
We take the same approach to all young voters, whether they are Māori or non-Māori: we use a variety of media to get to them. We know they are not keen to vote and we need to encourage them. There are a number of events aimed at reaching young voters, the new electronic technologies are being used to provide information to them, and so on.
Taito Phillip Field Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I would like the Minister to clarify an earlier answer. She inaccurately referred to everybody born in New Zealand being a New Zealand citizen. I wonder whether she could consider how accurate that statement is.
Madam SPEAKERTaito Phillip Field Link to this
Is the Minister’s statement in response to an earlier question—that every person born in New Zealand is in fact entitled to New Zealand citizenship—accurate?