Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Deposit requirement (specify amount) f . Other
Comments: To register, a party needs to show evidence of "a suitable name, 500 paying members who can enroll to vote, rules about party membership, and an auditor." A new party can also register a logo to be included on the voting paper. Once the Electoral Commission receives new party registration applications, they consult the public to inquire if there are any issues with the proposed name or logo. If the name and logo are deemed okay by public opinion, the Electoral Commission proceeds with consideration of the new party's registration application. New parties must also pay a $500 registration fee to the Commission.
Existing parties must send a statutory declaration and an audited return of party donations and loans each year to the Electoral Commission in order to register.
"Registration is not compulsory for political parties. Parties can promote the election of their electorate candidates at parliamentary elections without being registered." Unregistered parties, however, may not contest the party vote.
Source: https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/for-starting-a-political-party/
https://elections.nz/assets/Handbooks/Party-Registration-Handbook-28082020.pdf
Verified: 2024/07/10
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Citizenship d . Residence f . Registration j . Other
Comments: There are two types of candidates in legislative elections: candidates who stand for election in electorates and candidates on party lists who may be elected through the party vote. To be a candidate you must be enrolled to vote and a New Zealand citizen, citizens who are born overseas are required to provide evidence of citizenship with their nomination.
You are disqualified from being a candidate if you have not been in New Zealand within the last three years or if you are in prison serving a sentence of 3 or more years. Other, less common grounds for disqualification exist.
Independent candidates may not nominate themselves; they must be nominated by at least two voters enrolled in the respective electorate.
A $300 deposit is required for nomination.
A party's secretary may nominate candidates from representing their party by lodging a bulk nomination schedule with the Electoral Commission.
Source: Electoral Act 1993, Art. 143, 146:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/NZ/new-zealand-electoral-act-2010/view (2017)
https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/candidate-hub/becoming-a-candidate/how-to-become-a-candidate-at-a-general-election/
Verified: 2024/07/10
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: Any person qualified to be a candidate may, with his or her consent, be nominated as a constituency candidate for election for any electoral district, by not fewer than 2 registered electors of that district, by a nomination paper on a form provided by the Electoral Commission. Every constituency candidate, or some person on the constituency candidate’s behalf, shall deposit with the Returning Officer the sum of $300 not later than noon on nomination day. The candidate must also be a citizen who is registered to vote, has been in the country within the last three years, and is not serving a prison sentence of three or more years.
Source: Electoral Act 1993, Art. 143, 144, 150 (8):
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/NZ/new-zealand-electoral-act-2010/view (2017)
https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/for-candidates/candidate-handbook/becoming-a-candidate/#handbook-content
Verified: 2024/07/10
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct
Comments: Registered parties are able to receive conditional public funding for broadcasting election programmes and election advertising in relation to general elections. They can also receive donations, whether public or anonymous.
Source: Electoral Act 1993, Art. 3, 206:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/NZ/new-zealand-electoral-act-2010/view (2012) ;
Broadcasting Act No. 25 of 1989, art. 74A (1)
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/NZ/new-zealand-broadcasting-act-2010/view (2017) ;
https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/donations-and-loans/rules-for-party-donations-and-loans/
https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/for-starting-a-political-party/
Verified: 2024/07/10
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
e . Other
Comments: Unless an Act of Parliament expresses otherwise, "an amount of money equal to the amount of public money allocated under section 79 at the immediately preceding general election must ... be deemed to have been appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of enabling parties to fund the costs specified in subsection (1) incurred in relation to the subsequent general election."
Source: Electoral Act 1993, Art. 206:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0087/latest/whole.html#DLM308195 (2017);
Broadcasting Act No. 25 of 1989, Art. 74, 79:
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/NZ/new-zealand-broadcasting-act-2010/view (2017)
Verified: 2024/07/10
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Guidelines for parties receiving donations and loans are outlines in Articles 207-214 of the Electoral Act of 1993.
Source: Electoral Act 1993, Art. 207 - 214L: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0087/latest/whole.html#DLM308195 (2017)
Verified: 2024/07/10
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