Notice Board - News

Changes in Seats for next Election

Statistics New Zealand,

There will be one new General electoral district in the North Island, but no change in the number of Māori electoral districts for the next election, according to Statistics New Zealand. Data from the 2006 Census and Māori Electoral Option were used to determine this result.

"It is now the role of the Representation Commission to determine the electoral district boundaries and the location and name of the new district," Government Statistician Brian Pink said.

"The addition of the new General electoral district means there will be one fewer list seat in the 120-member Parliament (excluding any overhang seats), a reduction from 51 to 50," Mr Pink said.

The Electoral Act 1993 specifies that census results are used to determine the number of electoral districts. The Representation Commission will meet to draw new electoral boundaries, which will be based on this data and on population projections.

The formula set out in the 1993 Electoral Act calculates the number of electoral districts as follows:

• The General electoral population of the South Island is divided by 16 to give the South Island quota.
• The North Island general electoral population is divided by the South Island quota and rounded to give the number of North Island General electoral districts.
• The North Island General electoral population is divided by the number of North Island General electoral districts to give the North Island quota.
• The Māori electoral population is divided by the South Island quota and rounded to give the number of Māori electoral districts. The Māori electoral quota is the Māori electoral population divided by the number of Māori electoral districts.

The total number of General electoral districts will increase from 62 to 63. The number of South Island General electoral districts is set by the Electoral Act at 16. This number and the general electoral population of the South Island are used to calculate the South Island electoral quota. The South Island quota in turn, determines the number of North Island General electoral districts and the number of Māori electoral districts. The number of North Island General electoral districts will increase from 46 to 47. The number of Māori electoral districts remains at seven.

The average size (or quota) of electoral districts will be 57,562 people for South Island General electoral districts, 57,243 people for North Island General electoral districts, and 59,583 people for Māori electoral districts. To ensure all seats are within 5 percent of these totals, at least half of the electoral district boundaries will need to be redrawn by the Representation Commission.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

END

Media release: 1 February 2007