The change to a continuous model has important consequences for how the Māori electoral population and, by extension, the number of Māori seats are calculated. The bill amends the Electoral Act to decouple the calculation from their Māori electoral option and aligns it with the census, but otherwise substantively mirrors the current methodology set out in the Electoral Act. This means that the Māori electoral population will be calculated based on numbers as at census day, or, where the census and the general election are in the same year, 1 April in the following year.