Email this page
Send this page to a friend.
This page is printer friendly.
INZ/EEC Unqualified Voters Programme
Annual Report
Purpose: To identify, from immigration records, those on the electoral roll who appear not to meet New Zealand residence requirements, so their names may be removed from the roll.
Year commenced: 1996
Features: Data transferred online daily.
INZ disclosure to EEC: Immigration New Zealand provides full names (including aliases), date of birth, address and permit expiry date. The type of permit can be identified because five separate files are received, each relating to a different permit type.
2010/11 activity:
| Records received for matching (as at 30 June 2011) | 211,672 |
| Possible matches identified | 1,618 |
| Notice of adverse action sent | 1,618 |
| Challenge received | 64 |
| Successful challenges | 56 |
| Removals from roll | 1,562 |
| Cost | $47,242.66 |
| Average cost per removal | $30.25 |
Commentary: In August the legislation was amended to allow the match to take place before people are added to the roll (previously the check could only occur after the person had been added to the roll).
Compliance: Compliant.
Technical information
| Information matching provision | Electoral Act 1993, s.263A |
| Year authorised/commenced | 1995/1996 |
| Programme type | Confirming eligibility Detecting illegal behaviour |
System description
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) sends the EEC a file containing the names (including aliases), date of birth, address and permit expiry date of all people known to be in New Zealand on the basis of limited duration residence permits or visas, or who are believed to be overstayers. EEC matches this information against the electoral database and send out letters of explanation. If the first letter is not responded to, EEC is required under the Electoral Act to attempt to hand deliver a second notice before removing the individual from the electoral roll.
Historical activity
Daily matching (from 14 February 2010)
| 2009/10 | |
| Records received for matching | 353,079 |
| Possible matches identified | 338 |
| Challenge received | 17 |
| Successful challenges | 17 |
| Removals from roll | 312 |
| Cost | $9,745 |
| Average cost per removal | $31.23 |
Batch matching (prior to 14 February 2010)
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10* | |
| Records received for matching | 243,869 | 205,427 | 204,043 | 836,161 | 436,975 |
| Possible matches identified | 2,325 | 3,207 | 1,200 | 4,217 | 587 |
| Response received with evidence to remain on electoral roll |
32 | 112 | 28 | 434 | 6 |
| Total of all removals | 2,293 | 3,095 | 1,172 | 3,694 | 581 |
| Total cost | $115,156 | $171,984 | $71,907 | $167,557 | $21,308 |
| Average cost of removal | $50 | $55 | $61 | $45.36 | $36.68 |
* covering 3 June 2009 to 13 February 2010.
This match was not run in 2002/03 or 2003/04 as no election (national or local) was scheduled and the match was only run immediately in advance of an election.
In 2008/09 EEC increased the frequency with which they obtained the data from INZ to keep the roll as correct as practicable. Previously they obtained the data once per year. During 2008/09 extracts were obtained in July, then on a weekly basis between 15 September and 14 November 2008, and lastly in June 2009.
Until 2008/09 EEC checked each matched record with INZ to confirm the match. This check is seen to be no longer as useful as it was. Ceasing to conduct this check during 2008/09 has reduced the cost and administrative overhead of the programme.
In 2009/10 EEC have requested approval to receive daily copies of the file via an on-line transfer system. An approval for a one year period has been granted. Toward the end of that period the system will be audited and EEC may request a further approval.
INZ was previously known as New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS).