A leading Māori academic is warning that moves to strip prisoners of their voting rights are less about justice and more about political advantage.
As early voting begins in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, Te Pāti Māori candidate Oriini Kaipara is calling for clearer communication from the Electoral Commission—especially around prisoner eligibility for those serving less than three years.
Dr. Rawiri Waretini-Karena, who has been at the forefront of the fight for prisoner voting rights, says the government’s approach is not about good faith, but about silencing voices unlikely to back them at the polls.
“From my perspective, the reason why they’ve removed or are aiming to remove prisoner voting rights is because the majority of them don’t vote for National, do not vote for ACT, do not vote for New Zealand First. Now, to me, all governments should be acting in good faith. I don’t see good faith in this practice,” says Waretini-Karena.
The Electoral Amendment Bill currently before Parliament seeks to reinstate a full ban on prisoner voting before the 2026 General Election.
