The Government has announced details of its campaign to register Fijians living in New Zealand to vote in the 2014 election. Electronic Voter Registration centres in Auckland and Wellington will begin registering potential voters over an eight day period from this Wednesday, October 23rd, until Thursday October 31st.
Every Fijian over the age of 18 is being encouraged to come forward and is required to produce a valid Fijian passport. In announcing the details, the Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, urged Fijians living in New Zealand to take advantage of the opportunity.
“This is the chance for everyone to make their vote count next year in the first truly democratic parliamentary election in Fiji's history. It will be a historic occasion and I know that many Fijians living abroad are delighted that they no longer have to be actually present in Fiji to have their say", he said.
The registration process in the NZ capital, Wellington, is taking place at the Fiji High Commission and other locations. Registrations in Auckland will be held in commercial premises in areas where there are known to be high concentrations of Fijian residents.
The New Zealand registrations are the first phase of an ambitious program to also garner the participation in the election of Fijians living in other countries. The next phase - to be announced later - will see Electronic Voter Registration Centres set up in Australia, the west coast of North America and Britain.
"We recognise the ambitious nature of this undertaking,” the Attorney General said. "But we are determined to meet our goal of an election that is fair, credible and conducted to the best international standards. These days, that means giving the opportunity to vote to any citizen living abroad."
The EVR team in New Zealand is being led by the Acting Permanent Secretary for Justice, Mohammed Saneem.
The precise details of the program are as follows:
OPENING OF NEW ZEALAND ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION CENTRES FROM WEDNESDAY 23rd OCTOBER TO THE 31st OF OCTOBER, 2013. THE FOLLOWING VOTER REGISTRATION CENTRES WILL BE OPEN.
AUCKLAND
WEDNESDAY(23/10)
9.00am – 5.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
THURSDAY(24/10)
9.00am – 9.00pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
FRIDAY(25/10)
9.00am – 5.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
8.00am – 7.00pm
Arkh Foods -West Auckland
8.00am – 7.30pm
Food for Less (New Lynn)
SATURDAY(26/10)
9.00am – 5.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
8.00am – 7.00pm
Arkh Foods -West Auckland
8.00am – 7.30pm
Food for Less - New Lynn
12.00pm – 6.00pm
Papatoetoe Diwali (we will promote here)
SUNDAY(27/10)
10.00am – 4.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
8.00am – 7.30pm
Food For Less (Hamilton)
MONDAY(28/10)
9.00am – 5.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
12.00pm – 9.00pm
Manukau Diwali – Manukau
TUESDAY(29/10)
9.00am – 5.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
WEDNESDAY(30/10)
9.00am – 5.30pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
9.00am – 9.00pm
Lotus Plaza and Supermarket: Stoddart Road, Mt Roskil – Central Auckland
8.00am – 7.30pm
Food For Less – Otahuhu
THURSDAY(31/10)
9.00am – 9.00pm
Hunters Plaza, Papatoetoe – South Auckland
8.00am – 7.30pm
Food For Less – Otahuhu
8.00am – 7.00pm
Arkh Foods - West Auckland
8.00am – 7.30pm
Food for Less (New Lynn)
WELLINGTON
Wednesday (23/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Thursday (24/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Friday (25/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Saturday (26/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Sunday (27/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Monday (28/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Tuesday (29/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Wednesday (30/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Thursday (31/10)
10.00am – 7.00pm
Fiji High Commission. 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
Note:
1) Applicants for registration are reminded to bring along their valid Fiji Passport in order to get registered.
2) Registered Voters can also view their registration details and apply to make amendments/corrections if necessary.