Te Pati Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngawera-Packer. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Te Pāti Māori says it has filed urgent proceedings in the High Court over reports people have been removed from electoral roll or shifted off the Māori roll.
It's not yet clear what the nature of the legal proceedings are - the party has been approached by RNZ for clarification.
RNZ has spoken to several affected people, including Taryn Utiger, who could not find herself on the Māori roll despite switching to it last year.
She said she updated her details a month ago and called the Electoral Commission to double check she was all set to vote.
"They were like, yup ka pai you're on the Māori electorate roll, everything's good to go you will be able to vote in the local body elections and the referendum. I was like cool, thought that was the end of it, everything confirmed. Then I logged in last night and nothing."
Utiger said she then phoned the commission who told her she was on the dormant role because they hadn't heard from her in a while and also suggested she re-enroll.
"I was like, excuse me, I'm a former political journalist. You have heard from me... we spoke three weeks ago. I'm not impressed about this at all," she said.
"I asked for a manager to call me back because I feel like they have done this to me because I changed to the Māori electorate roll and if that is the case, that's really not okay."
The Electoral Commission has said there were no technical problems with the rolls. It said those who can't find their details may not be entering the correct information or may be on the dormant role, which applies to those who haven't communicated with the commission for three years.
Te Pāti Māori has sent formal letters to the Electoral Commission, the Minister of Justice, and the Ombudsman demanding urgent action, including a full investigation of the enrolment system and an extension for registrations in the upcoming Tāmaki Makaurau By-Election.
"We are witnessing what can only be described as voter suppression. Our whānau are being stripped of their democratic rights in silence" said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
Both Labour and the Greens have expressed concern about reports people can't find themselves on the roll.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said he was also concerned about them but the Electoral Commission had advised him as recently as this morning there was no issue.
"Look, I just think it's very easy for people to make claims. We have an Electoral Commission that has assured us that there is nothing unusual going on but if anybody has any hard evidence, I encourage them to talk to the Electoral Commission."
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