News

New Zealand: Electoral Finance Bill will bring better democracy, Scoop (2007)

This article briefly describes the potential effects of the Electoral Finance Bill that was adopted by the parliament of New Zealand in late 2007.

New Zealand to hold voting system referendum in 2011, Bloomberg (2009)

New Zealand will hold a referendum on changing its parliamentary voting system during the 2011 general election.

New Zealand: Electoral finance legislation seen as unfair by Greens, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

The Green Party says new electoral finance legislation unfairly allows unlimited spending by third parties.

New Zealand: Law change allows serving police to stand in local elections, Radio New Zealand (2010)

This article discusses the new and controversial bill allowing serving police to become local body politicians. According to the former legislation, police constables, officers and supervisors had to go on leave if they wanted to run for elections, and they had to quit their positions if elected. The Green Party strongly opposed this bill.

New Zealand: Election expenses a human rights issue - candidate, Voxy (2010)

This article reports on a controversy that involved Anthony Ravlich, a general election candidate of the Human Rights Party in Auckland. Mr Ravlich did not submit his campaign expenses, as required by the Electoral Finance Act, because the Government did not fund adequately the Human Rights Commission. Ravlich is currently facing charges in front of the High Court in Auckland.

Half of New Zealanders back governing national, Angus Reid Global Monitor

This article presents the results of the latest opinion poll in New Zealand. The governing conservatives are supported by 50% of the voters, while the opposing Labour party follows with 33%.

New Zealand: Election date should be fixed, committee told, The National Business Review (2010)

A group of electoral law experts have told a parliamentary committee that a fixed date regulation for elections should be introduced.

Pitiful level of knowledge about local body elections - survey, Radio New Zealand (2010)

A survey conducted by the Electoral Enrollment Centre revealed that most people knew little about the conduct of local elections.

New Zealand: Maori Party announces new candidate, The Dominion Post (2010)

The Maori Party announced that Na Rongowhakaata Raihania will be their candidate for the Ikaroa Rawhiti seat in next year's general election. The article includes a profile of the new candidate.

New Zealand: Key won't rule out working with NZ First, Radio New Zealand News (2010)

Prime Minister John Key has said the he will not rule out working with the New Zealand First party, before leader Winston Peters announces if his decision on running in the next general election. Key ruled out the possibility of working with Peters before the last election.

New Zealand: Nats might work with a Laws-led NZ First, TVNZ (2010)

Prime Minister John Key indicated that his National Party may be willing to work with the New Zealand First party if Michael Laws were to replace current leader Winston Peters. The National Party had concerns over a large donation Peters received during the last election.

New Zealand: Winston Peters to stand in 2011 election, 3 News (2010)

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has made it clear that he intends to stand in the upcoming general election. Recent polls indicate that the party has 4.5% support and Peters will try to return to parliament after being unsuccessful in the 2008 election.

New Zealand: New website helps keep electorate informed, 3 News (2010)

A new website has been launched to help inform New Zealand voters about upcoming elections in their areas, the candidates and their issues. The launch comes following a survey that indicated that over 60% of respondents could not correctly identify the dates for local elections.

New Zealand: MMP changes should come before 2014 election: poll, NZ Herald (2010)

This article reports on an opinion poll regarding the upcoming electoral reform in New Zealand. Voters will go to the polls next year to decide whether or not to change the Mixed Member Proportional system (MMP). If this reform will pass, the majority of the people interviewed believe that it would be appropriate to have the new system implemented by the 2014 elections.

New Zealand: Time is running out for candidates in local elections, Voxy (2010)

This article discusses the preparations for New Zealand local elections. Nine days before the final deadline to register as a candidate, few people did so. In Whakatane District, only 3 candidates registered for the District Council.

New Zealand: Local government elections - good candidates needed, Scoop (2010)

This article discusses the lack of candidates for the upcoming local elections in New Zealand. The Local Government Forum is encouraging people to stand for councils, as only the deadline for the registration is only ten days away. This issue show a general apathy towards local elections in the country: in 2007, only 44% of the registered voters cast a ballot in the local elections.

New Zealand: Over 91pc of voters enrol for elections, The New Zealand Herald (2010)

This article reports on the preparations for the upcoming local elections in New Zealand. The Electoral Commission reported that 91% of the eligible voters registered (2.956 million). In 2007, 93.8% registered to vote for the same elections. The Electoral Enrollment Center will not send out voting papers in the mail.

New Zealand: Almost 3 million enrolled to vote in elections, Scoop (2010)

This article reports on the preparation for the local body elections in New Zealand. The Electoral Enrollment Centre released the final details of the voter registration procedures: almost 3 million people registered, 91.3% of the eligible voters. The preparations will now move forward.

New Zealand: Positive Signals On MMP Referendum Process, Voxy (2010)

This article reports on the campaign for the referendum on the Mixed Member Proportional system in New Zealand. The Justice Minister declared that everything is ready for the referendum, and a fair process will be guaranteed. The referendum will be held next year alongside the general election.

New Zealand: Politicians 'should stay away from MMP campaign', Radio New Zealand (2010)

This article reports on the statements of the Justice Minister Simon Power about the campaign for the referendum on the Mixed Member Proportional system. Mr Power stated that in this campaign politicians should not influence the voters' decision. If the the majority of the voters will decide not to change the electoral system, the Electoral Commission will then consider minor modifications if needed.

New Zealand: Voter interest in elections varies, Radio New Zealand (2010)

This article reports on a survey about the people's interest in the upcoming local elections in New Zealand. This survey showed that the interest is higher in Auckland (79%) than in any other part of the country. Almost half of all voters say that they already know what they are going to vote.

New Zealand: Less than half of voters think local electoral system is easy to understand, Voxy (2010)

This article reports on a survey about the upcoming local elections in New Zealand. 43% of the people interviewed stated that the electoral system used in local elections is easy to understand. The system used is a mixed one: First Past the Post and Single Transferable Vote. Many fewer people think that the MMP system adopted for the general election is easy to understand. The survey also showed that 87% of the people over 60 years old are sure that they will go to vote, while only 44% of people under 30 say the same.

New Zealand: New election agency now operating, Radio New Zealand (2010)

The new Electoral Commission which combines the functions of the Chief Electoral Office and the previous Electoral Commission is operational with its first test at the Mana by-election.

New Zealand: Third man charged in election case, The New Zealand Herald (2010)

This article reports on the arrest of a third person that illegally registered in the electoral roll in the Super City elections. So far, 300 voters have been removed from the roll, and up to 1500 are currently under investigation. After these episodes, Auckland City Mayor John Banks asked the Parliament to look carefully into the postal voting.

New Zealand: MMP vote will lead to total review of system, The New Zealand Herald (2010)

This article discusses the Electoral Referendum Bill that is currently being reviewed in the parliament in New Zealand. The government has promised a referendum on the MMP voting system next year. The Bill rules that if a majority of the voters is in favor of an electoral reform, a new referendum will be held in 2014 to choose between MMP and the most popular of four alternatives: First Past the Post, Preferential Voting, Single Transferable Vote or Supplementary Member. The Bill also introduces a $300,000 limit on advertising spending for political parties.

New Zealand: Government backtracks on electoral finance law, The New Zealand Herald (2010)

This article reports on the electoral finance laws that are being discussed in New Zealand. All political parties in the parliament have agreed on a law to impose public disclosures of donations and lobby groups. Yesterday, the justice minister announced the changes to the electoral finance law, including a 300,000 spending limit on "promoters" or "third parties" who campaign for or against a certain political party or candidate.

New Zealand: Electoral bill puts $300,000 cap on lobbyists, Stuff.Nz (2010)

This article discusses the new Electoral Finance Act currently discussed in New Zealand. Among other things, the Act would set the maximum limit for advertising spending of lobbyists, such as unions and private companies, to $300,000. There was a broad consensus from all political parties, but many critics argue that such a limit will seriously restricts New Zealanders' right to free speech.

New Zealand: Political outlook: Polls say National set to return in 2011, The National Business Review (2010)

This article report on the last opinion poll in New Zealand. The TV3 survey showed the National party supported by more than 50% of the voters, while the Labour party is supported only by 33% of the people interviewed. John Key, a remarkably popular prime minister, expressed his satisfaction.

New Zealand: National leads Labour by 22 points - poll, Stuff.nz (2010)

This article discusses the results of the latest opinion polls in New Zealand. The ruling National (55%) are leading the political race with 22 percentage points more than the competing Labour Party (33%). Prime Minister John Key is supported by 57% of the people interviewed.

New Zealand: Maggie Barry makes National's by-election shortlist, The New Zealand Herald (2011)

This article reports on the by-election campaign in New Zealand. Former broadcaster Maggie Barry was able to pass into the National shortlist for the March 5 Botany by-election (5 people were selected among 13 candidates in the party). The final selection will be made on January 27.

New Zealand: It's an election year, Stuff.nz (2011)

This article reports on the political situation in New Zealand. The 2011 election campaign is under way: Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff are both campaigning and making keynotes speeches.

New Zealand Leader Sets Election After World Cup, The Wall Street Journal (2011)

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key on Wednesday called a general election for Nov. 26, seeking to avoid letting the outcome of the rugby World Cup get in the way of politics in a country where the game is a national obsession.

New Zealand: November MMP referendum date welcomed, New Zealand News UK (2011)

The article discusses the New Zealand electoral system referendum which will take place at the same time with the general election on November 26. Mixed Member Proportional representation system has been in place since 1993 and the question of the referendum in 2011 is whether to retain it or not. The campaign for the current MMP system welcomes the referendum date.

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New Zealand: New right-wing party formed, The National Business Review (2011)

The article discusses the polical parties in New Zealand. A new right-wing party has been formed and is now trying to get 500 supporters to be able to stand in the coming elections. The party wants to reverse New Zealand's growing dependence on the state.

New Zealand: Harawira resigns from parliament, TVNZ (2011)

The article reports that New Zealand independent MP Hone Harawira has resigned from parliament. Electoral rules state that a by-election is now required, a fact which some MPs say is a waste of public money. Both The Labour and Maori party confirmed that they will run for the new seat.

New Zealand: Voters urged to enrol for by-election, NZHerald (2011)

Voters in Te Tai Tokerau region of New Zealand are being encouraged to register in order to be able to vote in a by-election that was sparked as a result of Hone Harawira quitting the Maori party and re-running under the newly founded Mana party. Voters who enroll correctly will "receive a voting information pack in the mail a week before the by-election."

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