Your Right and Responsibility to Vote
Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities of New Zealand citizenship. As a citizen, you have the right to vote in all New Zealand elections — national, local, and referendums.
Enrolling on the electoral roll is compulsory for all eligible New Zealanders. Voting in elections is voluntary, but is strongly encouraged as a civic duty.
🗳️New Zealand women gained the right to vote in 1893 — making New Zealand the first self-governing country in the world to grant this right.
Who Can Vote
To vote in New Zealand general elections, you must be:
- A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- Aged 18 years or older
- Enrolled on the electoral roll
- Ordinarily resident in New Zealand
New Zealand citizens living overseas can also vote if they have lived in New Zealand at some point in the last 3 years and intend to return.
How to Enrol to Vote
You must be enrolled on the electoral roll to vote. Enrolling is compulsory — it is a legal obligation for all eligible New Zealanders.
How to Enrol
- Online at vote.nz — the fastest and easiest method
- At a PostShop or library
- By calling the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56
When you enrol, you will be placed on either the General Roll or the Māori Roll. If you identify as Māori, you can choose to be on the Māori Roll and vote in a Māori electorate.
How NZ Elections Work — MMP
New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system. Each voter gets two votes:
- Party vote — you vote for a political party. This determines the overall proportion of seats each party gets in Parliament.
- Electorate vote — you vote for a local Member of Parliament (MP) to represent your electorate.
Parliament has 120 seats (and can have extra "overhang" seats). Seats are allocated proportionally based on party votes. A party needs at least 5% of the party vote or one electorate seat to enter Parliament.
Elections are held every 3 years. The party or coalition that commands a majority in Parliament forms the Government.
Local Government Voting
New Zealand also has local government elections every 3 years for regional councils and city/district councils. New Zealand citizens and permanent residents aged 18+ can vote in local elections.
Local elections use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) or First Past the Post system depending on the council. Voting papers are posted to enrolled voters and can be returned by post or at a ballot box.
Political Parties in New Zealand
New Zealand has a range of political parties representing different views across the political spectrum. Major parties include the Labour Party, the National Party, the Green Party, ACT New Zealand, and New Zealand First. Te Pāti Māori represents Māori interests specifically.
As a citizen, you are free to join or support any lawful political party, stand as a candidate for election, and campaign for causes you believe in.