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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.
INZ disclosure to EC: 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.
Compliance: Compliant.
Technical information
| Information matching provision | Electoral Act 1993, s.263A |
| Year authorised | 1995 |
| Year commenced | 1996 |
| Programme type | Confirming eligibility Detecting illegal behaviour |
System description
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) sends the Electoral Commission (EC) daily files 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. EC matches applications for enrolment against this information and, if a match is found, contacts the applicant by phone where possible to discuss their eligibility. A letter is still sent to confirm the conclusion reached during the phone call.
Recent activity
| 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | |
| Records received for matching* | 357,722 | 362,113 | 276,974 | 212,235 | 299,834 |
| Notices of adverse action sent | 537 | 833 | 1,301 | 125 | 393 |
| Challenge received | 14 | 1 | 26 | 5 | 7 |
| Successful challenges | 11 | 1 | 26 | 5 | 7 |
| Cost | $3,201 | $4,808 | $7,494 | $811 | $2,511 |
*As at 30 June of the year.
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 the frequency with which data was obtained from INZ was increased 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. Having more current data meant that the previous practice of checking each matched record with INZ to confirm the match was no longer required. This reduced the cost and administrative overhead of the programme.
In 2009/10 the frequency was increased to become daily via the on-line transfer system. This ensures the data is as current (timely) as possible. The daily transfer commenced on 14 February 2010.
In August 2011 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).
INZ was previously known as New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS).
The utility of this provision was assessed in a report Social Welfare, Unqualified Voters and Fines Defaulters Matches (April 2011) and again in Unenrolled Voters Programme, INZ/MoH Publicly Funded Health Eligibility Programme Matches (August 2016).
