Electoral Roll Choice and Knowledge of the Māori Roll: Results from a Representative Survey of Rangatahi Māori

Every five years and initially when enrolling to vote Māori (the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) have the choice of the Māori roll or the general roll. Increased numbers of Māori on the Māori roll leads to an increase in the number of seats, and therefore an increase in Members of Parliament dedicated to Māori representation. The fact that around only 52% of Māori are on the Māori roll has been a puzzle for political scientists: why do Māori not join the Māori roll when it means more political power for Māori? Research has explored the predictors of roll choice for older adults, but this paper presents the first quantitative exploration of roll choice for rangatahi Māori (Māori youth; aged 13-18) and the first work that explores the predictors of not understanding the difference between rolls. We draw on rangatahi Māori data (N = 1,528) from the Youth19 Rangatahi Smart survey, which surveyed students from a random sample of schools from Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, and Waikato (the Northern regions of New Zealand). We found that those who also identify as Pākehā (New Zealand European) were less likely to opt for the Māori roll, but those who knew their iwi (tribal/nation affiliations), were comfortable in Māori social surroundings, felt a spiritual connection to land and the presence of their tūpuna/tīpuna (ancestors) in their lives, and felt the drive to be respected as tangata whenua (Indigenous) were more likely to choose the Māori roll. Older rangatahi were more likely to say they understood the roll choice question, as were those with study plans post-secondary school, and those who said they were comfortable in Māori social settings. These results largely support past work with adults and contribute to a body of knowledge which will be useful for policymakers, organisations, and others seeking to increase voter enrolment and enrolment on the Māori roll. They also provide a case study in measures of Indigenous self-determination and show that identity and knowledge become both barriers and enabling factors in the success of initiatives to enhance self-determination.