The Local Government Minister hopes lowering the voting age to 16 could mean more Maori participate

The Supreme Court yesterday declared it's inconsistent with the Bill of Rights to deny 16 and 17 year-olds the vote - and the Prime Minister says she'll put it to Parliament for a vote.

Nanaia Mahuta says we can't assume it would address voter turnout, but she hopes it'd have some effect.

She says there's been declining rates of Maori participation in general elections, and we need to find a way to address that.