20 Nov 2011

Maori urged to vote this election

7:12 pm on 20 November 2011

The Electoral Commission says it is important for Maori to vote in this election.

Figures collected after the 2008 election show only 62.41% of Maori on the Maori roll voted, compared with a turnout of 80.88% on the general roll.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many young Maori do not vote.

Te Reo Maori student Aini Grace says a lack of knowledge about policy and political parties may keep him away from the polls on election day on Saturday.

The 23-year-old says he does not follow current affairs and prefers to get his news from social networking sites such as Facebook.