Key points
This indicator measures the proportion of all enrolled electors (both resident and ratepayer) who cast a vote in the most recent local body elections. Voter turnout rates are a measure of political participation. They can be seen as an indicator of the extent to which citizens are a part of the political process, and the confidence the population has in, and the importance they attach to, political institutions.
- For almost all local authorities in New Zealand and the Waikato Region, voter turnout in the 2007 local authority elections was the lowest since 1989.
- Local authority voter turnout tends to be generally higher for councils with a smaller constituency. Voter turn-out in Matamata-Piako District in 2007 was 42%, a drop of 23% since 1989.
Percentage of all enrolled electors (both resident and ratepayer) who cast a vote in local authority elections – Waikato Region territorial authorities
| Territorial authority |
1989 |
1992 |
1995 |
1998 |
2001 |
2004 |
2007 |
| Franklin District |
59 |
54 |
47 |
49 |
49 |
46 |
35 |
| Thames-Coromandel District |
83 |
68 |
63 |
87 |
61 |
56 |
53 |
| Hauraki District |
65 |
59 |
59 |
64 |
63 |
53 |
49 |
| Waikato District |
61 |
53 |
54 |
52 |
51 |
42 |
35 |
| Matamata-Piako District |
65 |
51 |
54 |
61 |
52 |
42 |
42 |
| Hamilton City |
58 |
52 |
50 |
54 |
47 |
45 |
35 |
| Waipa District |
57 |
49 |
53 |
49 |
50 |
42 |
34 |
| Otorohanga District |
69 |
56 |
71 |
62 |
51 |
55 |
40 |
| South Waikato District |
67 |
45 |
43 |
54 |
44 |
41 |
39 |
| Waitomo District |
62 |
54 |
65 |
64 |
61 |
56 |
40 |
| Taupo District |
70 |
62 |
62 |
65 |
60 |
53 |
50 |
| Rotorua District |
60 |
60 |
52 |
51 |
49 |
49 |
44 |
Source: Department of Internal Affairs/Ministry of Social Development
What agencies are doing
Information currently being collated.
What you can do to help
Information currently being collated.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by increasing voter turn-out are:
- All our people and communities can participate in decision-making. We are educated, informed and have the resources we need to take responsibility for our own futures.
- Iwi, hapu and Maori work together with central government, local government and community organisations in mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Our communities understand partnerships under the Treaty of Waitangi and representation and processes for these partnerships have integrity.
- The unique status of tangata whenua is respected and reflected in community processes.
- Maori have the opportunity to participate in community development and decision-making at marae, hapu and iwi levels.