Recently Updated Articles
- ARTICLES
Donations protected from disclosure reports5 Jan 2009
The Electoral Commission reports on donations protected from disclosure which it has received and paid to parties and to third parties. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-52, Labour Party, election advertisements16 Dec 2008
Labour Party sign in Mount Maunganui had a slash attached which obscured the promoter statement. No offence committed because the contravention was not wilful. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-51, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, Labour Party, Maori Party, election advertisements16 Dec 2008
Advertisement in the Hamilton Press contains election advertisements and its publication was not authorised in writing by the parties. Defects in the promoter statement will not be reported to the Police, however the failure to obtain written authorisation of the Parties will be reported. Read more »
Enrolling - FAQ15 Dec 2008
Electoral Commission decision 2008-50, Labour Party, election advertisement11 Dec 2008
Labour Party billboard was not "published" within the meaning of section 4 of the Electoral Finance Act 2007 when it was displayed to journalists filming a TV3 news item. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-49, ACT New Zealand, election advertisement11 Dec 2008
Act New Zealand booklet "Not your typical party" was not "published" within the meaning of section 4 of the Electoral Finance Act 2007 when it was handed to a journalist at an ACT party conference. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-48, Labour Party, election advertisement11 Dec 2008
A red balloon bearing the Labour Party logo and website, displayed at a university club day, is not an election advertisement within the meaning of section 5 of the Electoral Finance Act 2007. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions database10 Dec 2008
A table and downloadable spreadsheet allow you to search and manipulate a database of summary information relating to Electoral Commission decisions on alleged electoral law breaches. Read more »
Party donation returns 1996 - 20074 Dec 2008
Returns relate to donations of more than $10,000 made in calendar years, and must be provided to the Electoral Commission no later than 30 April of the year following the calendar year to which a report relates. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-37, ACT New Zealand, annual returns of donations 2005 and earlier4 Dec 2008
Free office space to the value of approximately $20,000 per year provided to ACT New Zealand up until 2005 was a party donation and was not included in ACT’s annual returns of donations for the relevant years. ACT New Zealand is required to file amended returns for the relevant years. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-47, Green Party, election advertisement3 Dec 2008
Green Party signs in Palmerston North did not contain a promoter statement but the offence is so inconsequential to the public interest that the matter will not be reported to the Police. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-46, National Party, election advertisement3 Dec 2008
Flyer distributed by Nicky Wagner MP did not contain a promoter statement and its publication does not appear to have been authorised in writing by the financial agent for the National Party. The offence will be reported to the Police. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-45, ACT New Zealand, election advertisement3 Dec 2008
Rodney Hide’s jacket bearing an embroidered logo and slogan did not contain a promoter statement and its publication does not appear to have been authorised in writing by the financial agent for ACT New Zealand. The offence will be reported to the Police. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-44, ACT New Zealand, election advertisement3 Dec 2008
Flyer distributed in Hunua electorate promoting Roger Douglas and ACT New Zealand is an election advertisement in favour of ACT, did not contain a promoter statement, and its publication was not authorised in writing by the financial agent for ACT. The failure to obtain written authorisation from the party financial agent will be reported to the Police. Read more »
Third party election expenses and returns2 Dec 2008
Listed third parties must file returns of election expenses and accompanying auditor's reports within 70 working days of an election. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-43, National Party, Cobb & Co Paraparaumu, election advertisement26 Nov 2008
Advertisement in the Kapiti Observer sponsored by Cobb & Co Paraparaumu is an election advertisement in favour of the National Party, did not contain a satisfactory promoter statement, and its publication was not authorised in writing by the National Party. The failure to obtain written authorisation of the Party will be reported to the Police. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-42, National Party (anti), election advertisements26 Nov 2008
National Party polices released by Trevor Mallard MP and Jim Anderton MP are not election advertisements within the meaning of section 5 of the Electoral Finance Act 2007 and therefore their publication is not governed by the requirements of the Act. Read more »
Returns of party donations exceeding $20,00025 Nov 2008
This page carries details of returns of party donations exceeding $20,000 from the same donor which must be filed with the Electoral Commission within 10 working days of the receipt of the donation or the final donation aggregating to more than $20,000 from the same donor in a 12 month period. Read more »
2008 election official results22 Nov 2008
The Chief Electoral Officer has released the official results for the 2008 General Election. Read more »
Two Ticks? Too Easy! - MMP basics18 Nov 2008
On election day your two votes help decide who will represent us in parliament. Your votes do make a difference - here's why... Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-41, various broadcasters, election programmes, election advertisements12 Nov 2008
Live broadcast of the Prime Minister’s election date announcement is not an election advertisement within the meaning of the Electoral Finance Act, and is not a prohibited election programme within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act. Read more »
Consulting on...12 Nov 2008
The electoral agencies are always keen to hear from people with ideas to improve the services they are able to offer, and sometimes they will be seeking views on specific issues detailed here. Also listed are previous consultations and those of other bodies related to electoral matters, such as select committees inquiries. Read more »
Feedback and suggestions invited for post-election pocket compendium12 Nov 2008
The Electoral Commission is inviting feedback, by 28 Nov '08, on the 2005 New Zealand Pocket Electoral Compendium and suggestions for content or presentation of the 2008 edition. Read more »
Wallace Scholarships for tertiary student research12 Nov 2008
Applications close on 2 February 2009 for Wallace Scholarships to support tertiary student research work in any discipline exploring a topic related to the 2008 general election and the use, understanding, trust, or valuing of New Zealand's electoral framework and processes. Read more »
Official election count process8 Nov 2008
The official results of a general election are declared 14 days after election day. Read more »
Election day rules7 Nov 2008
Campaigning on Election Day is a Criminal Offence. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-38, NZ First, annual returns of donations 2005-74 Nov 2008
(Full Decision Released) Donations made to NZ First in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 years were not included in the party’s annual returns of donations. No offence committed by the Party Secretary in respect of 2007 return. NZ First is required to file amended returns and accompanying auditor’s reports for 2005 and 2006 (since received without auditor's reports). Read more »
Third party donation returns4 Nov 2008
The financial agent of every listed third party must file a donation return and accompanying statutory declaration(s) with the Electoral Commission by 10 March 2009 – at the same time that the election expense return is filed. Read more »
How to make a broadcaster's return of election programmes4 Nov 2008
After each election, every broadcaster must give the Electoral Commission a complete and accurate statement of election advertising broadcast during the three months before polling day. The return is due no later than 10 working days after the end of the month in which an election is held. Read more »
Electoral Commission decision 2008-40, New Zealand Labour Party, elections advertisements3 Nov 2008
The Office of the Prime Minister published a Labour Party video on YouTube without a promoter statement. No determination made as to whether the video is an election advertisement but, if it is an election advertisement, any potential contravention was not wilful and therefore no offence committed. Read more »