29892 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Written Question

Published date: 13 Jul 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	29892 (2026)
Question asked:	28 Jun 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Local Government
Minister replying:	Hon Simon Watts
Answer received:	06 Jul 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_29892_2026
Document guid:	cbbb3d91-6adf-4a8c-b50d-6392075107b0

29892 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What specific action, if any, does the Minister intend to take before the 2028 local elections to address voter turnout falling to 39 percent nationally — the lowest since postal voting began in 1989?

Hon Simon Watts: As Minister of Local Government, I have no specific actions planned at this point. Voter turnout trends can be difficult to identify and there are several factors that can influence low voter turnout.