Kiwis living across Pacific urged to check enrolment before key election deadlines hit

New Zealanders living across the Pacific are being reminded they do not have to be in Aotearoa to have their say in this year’s general election.

From Sāmoa and Tonga to the Cook Islands, Niue and beyond, eligible overseas voters can still take part in the 7 November election.

But Elections NZ says the time to check enrolment is now.

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Hone Fowler - Elections NZ Northern Manager for Community Engagement, says people travelling or living overseas during the voting period should not assume they are unable to vote.

“If you’re travelling overseas, if you’re going to be overseas during the voting period this year, you can actually vote,” Fowler says.

Overseas voters can download and upload their voting papers through vote.nz or vote in person at selected New Zealand High Commission offices in Apia, Nuku’alofa, Rarotonga and Alofi.

The key deadline for enrolment is midnight on Sunday 25 October. Advance voting starts the following day, Monday 26 October and runs until election day on 7 November.

Unlike previous elections, voters will not be able to enrol once voting has started, making it more important for people overseas to check their details early.

Figures from the 2023 election show New Zealanders across the Pacific are already taking part in overseas voting.

The key deadline for enrolment is midnight on Sunday 25 October. Advance voting starts Monday 26 October and runs until election day on 7 November. Photo/PMN composite

Votes were returned from 584 people in the Cook Islands, 440 in Sāmoa, 396 in Fiji, 131 in Papua New Guinea, 106 in Vanuatu, 87 in Niue and 84 in Tonga.

Fowler says people should check whether they meet the requirements before assuming they are not eligible.

“Have I lived in New Zealand, Aotearoa, for 12 months or more in my lifetime? And do I visit New Zealand on a regular basis? If you meet those criteria, you might be eligible to vote at this year’s election,” he says.

New Zealand citizens living overseas must have lived in New Zealand continuously for at least 12 months at some point in their life and visited New Zealand within the past three years.

Permanent residents must have lived in New Zealand continuously for at least 12 months and returned within the past 12 months.

Fowler says families can play an important role by sharing the information with relatives and friends who may not realise they are eligible to vote.

Listen to Hone Fowler's interview below.

He says people living in New Zealand’s Realm countries can also enrol if they meet the same requirements.

“Niue, Tokelau and Cook Islands, if you live there, if you’re from there, and you’ve also lived in New Zealand for 12 months or more, you are eligible to enrol to vote.”

He encourages eligible voters to make sure their enrolment details are up to date through vote.nz.

Fowler also clarified a common question around electoral rolls, saying people of Māori descent can choose between the Māori and general rolls.

“When it comes to ancestry, or when it comes to descent, if you whakapapa Māori, Aotearoa or New Zealand Māori, then you’re eligible to make that choice between the Māori roll or the general roll,” he says.

“That doesn’t include Cook Island Māori.”

Māori voters who are already enrolled have until midnight on Thursday, 6 August to switch between the Māori and general rolls. First-time voters can make their choice when they enrol before enrolments close.

Fowler says younger Pacific voters should also understand the importance of taking part.

“Decisions that are made for young people should involve the voices of young people,” he said. “And this is one way, one mechanism that young people can have their voices heard and reflected in who represents them in our Parliament.”

Anyone needing help with enrolment can contact Elections NZ by emailing overseas@vote.nz, calling 0800 36 76 56 or texting 3676.