The new Labour leader's pouring cold water on a suggestion from his party, that benefits and state housing should be tied to voter enrolment.

The idea was raised in a legal memorandum, to the judge leading the Te Tai Tokerau recount.

Party general secretary Tim Barnett suggested law reform to make enrolment a pre-condition of getting state support - as is the case in other countries.

But Labour's leader Andrew Little says he doesn't believe in the idea.