Are you on the Māori roll? Rangatahi share their experience

By Mahi Tahi Media

“If you’re Māori, why wouldn’t you be on the Māori roll?

Māori across Aotearoa now have until July 13 to decide whether they’ll enroll on the general or Māori roll. 

The Māori roll is vital as it determines the number of Māori seats in parliament which is an important part of fulfilling the right for political representation.

Up until recently, if you wanted to switch from the general roll to the Māori one you had to wait five years for the census to do so. 

But the Māori electoral option has just changed making it easier to decide which roll to be on.

In this episode of Ohinga, rangatahi share their feelings about participating in politics, why they don’t feel adequately represented in parliament and how those factors could help them make their choices in the build up to this year’s election.

This is part of our reo Māori series, Ohinga, created by Mahi Tahi Media, with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Stay tuned for a new episode every week.

More stories:

Opinion: New Zealand has a new king, but should we?

"Under the current system - absolutely cut ties."

Rawiri Waititi calls on King Charles to address Crown’s ‘heinous legacy’

Today, Waititi said there was “no honour” in the British Crown.

Rawiri Waititi calls on King Charles to address Crown’s ‘heinous legacy’

Today, Waititi said there was “no honour” in the British Crown.

All Episodes39

The indigenous bond between Māori and Native Americans

“We’re proud and we’re here today because of the resilience our ancestors instilled in us.”

Why Māori celebrate the ikura/period

“Ikura is a symbol of whakapapa.”

The Land Wars commemoration dedicated to children killed in war

The Māori king Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII visited the site last year.

What a decade of ballroom means for LGBTTQIA+ Māori

Ballroom culture has just celebrated 10 years in Aotearoa.

Māori stories on endometriosis

“It becomes a part of your brand as a person. ‘Oh Jade has endo’.”

Empowering wāhine through connecting to the ocean

“It’s made everything even more deep and meaningful. You’re carrying an ocean inside you.”

The traditions connecting rangatahi to the Māori Land Wars

“When they step into that realm, they feel a shift, a movement in the wairua.”

The wharenui connecting Hawai’i to Aotearoa

“The people back home, who built this whare, you can still feel to this day.”

A day on the campaign trail with National’s Tama Potaka

Ohinga spent a day campaigning - and bowling - with National's Tama Potaka.

A day on the campaign trail with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke

Ohinga spent a day on the trail with Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.

A day on the campaign trail with the Green’s Tamatha Paul

Ohinga spent a day on the trail with Green Party Wellington Central candidate Tamatha Paul.

A day on the campaign trail with Arena Williams

Arena Williams won her first electorate seat in in 2014 at the age of 24.

Ko Ōtaki tēnei: the town that loves te reo Māori

"A town committed to nurturing its language, its people, and its vibrant culture."

Reo Māori classes in Australia can’t cope with demand

“Share your treasures with your world.”

Black Ferns: The Paul sisters on the rise of women’s rugby

“Knowing who you are, where you come from and who you represent is pretty important.”

Far North Mayor on why Māori must vote

“I may be the first but bring on the many young ones that will now follow.”

Injuries force former NRL player to think of life beyond the league field

“My advice to young Māori is not to put your eggs all in one basket."

How Reece Campbell champions music, Tā Moko and reo Māori, in Australia

“Anything to do with our culture, I love seeing it.”

Bringing whānau home: The family making repatriation from Australia possible

“This is our birthright, Tangihanga is a birthright for Māori."

Mātātoa: the CrossFit comp blending fitness with te reo

Mātātoa is the first Māori language CrossFit event in the country.

Whānau Māori living with dementia: will you look after your Koro or Kui?

“My advice for those dealing with family with dementia , I would say just to practice patience”

The vital role of harvesting kai for hautapu

"Matariki serves as a unifying force, bringing people from all walks of life together."

Wāhine take the lead in this year's momentous Matariki celebration

Traditionally men have led the karakia for hautapu.

How the art of Tātatau is empowering indigenous wāhine in Australia

“Tātatau is so important to me because it’s something I don’t just wear, but it’s something I live.”

Reclaiming our traditions by not using a surname

“The thing that I don’t agree with is that Māori have to have a last name, that is wrong”.

Hawai’ians natives inspired to learn language by Māori

"If people do not use the Hawai’ian language, it will cease to exist."

These women share their breast cancer journey

Wāhine Māori are 1.4 times more likely to die from breast cancer than non - Māori.

Why my mum could not attend my University graduation in Hawaii

Irene Tawa is the first person in her whānau to graduate from college and managed to do it abroad.

How to become your own boss: Rangatahi share their secrets

“ I didn’t choose brick laying, brick laying chose me.”

Are you on the Māori roll? Rangatahi share their experience

Māori can get 14 seats if all Maori choose Māori.

‘Hula is life’ Māori Prodigy take the stage at Merrie Monarch

“It’s a dance, it’s a song and it talks about who we are as Hawai’i”.

An indigenous system that saw the foresight of the floods

From the Auckland floods to Cyclone Gabrielle, Aotearoa has been hit hard by extreme weather events.

What it means to be from Tūhoe

“ Just like riding horses and going hunting, and yeah…feel like I’m a Māori”

The reality of buying a home in your 20s

“We want to be millionaires, rich in whenua.”

This activist couple fights in support of decolonisation

“The colonial system that we all live under is affecting all of us.”

Why making Aotearoa history compulsory matters to students

Aotearoa History to be implemented in the school curriculum.

I am walking 200km for the cyclone affected East Coast

“What’s the point in being successful if you can’t help people along the way?”

My dream is to perform at Te Matatini: I have been trialling for 5 years

“This has been a long time coming for me to this Te Matatini”

The continuation of our whānau legacy in kapa haka

“Matatini is the perfect platform for young Māori to showcase our amazing culture to the world.”