31:
304:"let's just take a deep breath and examine the rules that govern election spending in Britain and Canada (countries which, the last time I looked, were still counted among the world's leading democracies). In Britain, "third party" expenditure is capped at 5 per cent of the expenditure authorised for political parties in the 12 months prior to polling day.
309:
In Canada the figure is 1 per cent, but applies only to the period of official campaigning. (Mr Burton is proposing a cap of 2.5 per cent or $ 60,000 for 10 months.) In both
Britain and Canada, third parties are required to register with the official electoral regulators; both countries also restrict
202:
The Act made it illegal for anyone to spend more than NZ$ 12,000 criticising or supporting a political party or taking a position on any political matter, or more than NZ$ 1,000 criticising or supporting an individual member of parliament, without first registering with a state agency, the
Electoral
420:
did not vote. The legislation was sent to the
Justice and Electoral Committee for consideration, with agreement from MPs to extend the membership of the committee for consideration of the Bill to include members from almost all Parliamentary parties. The committee's report on the Bill was due by 25
529:
signed the Act into law on 19 December 2007. The
Electoral Finance Act was repealed on 17 February 2009 by a vote in Parliament of 112 to 9. The Green Party was the only Party opposing the repeal, saying it should stay in force until a replacement Bill was prepared. National Party Justice Minister
499:
The Bill was put to a second reading vote on 22 November 2007. It passed by 65 votes to 54, with Labour, New
Zealand First, the Greens, United Future, and the Progressive Party supporting it. National, ACT, the Māori Party, and independents Gordon Copeland and Taito Phillip Field voted against it,
221:
The Act extends the "regulated period" for election campaigning from the previous 90-day period to the period starting on 1 January of election year – from three months to around ten, depending on the timing of the election. During this period electoral advertising by candidates, political parties
433:
reported on 31 August that the
Government had indicated it might write to the Committee indicating that it intended to make unspecified changes to the parts of the legislation dealing with third parties. This would have prevented the committee from hearing criticism of the existing provisions and
516:
The Bill passed its third reading on 18 December 2007 by 63 votes to 57, with the
National Party, the Maori Party, ACT, United Future and independent MP Taito Phillip Field voting against and Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First and Progressive voting for. Independent MP Gordon Copeland did not
234:, a group that advocates the reform of election finance law in New Zealand, opposed parts of the Bill, particularly the failure of the Bill to ban secret donations to political parties, given the strong financial disclosure requirements placed on third parties.
177:
The proponents of the bill generally held that such a law was required to prevent wealthy private parties from "buying elections" anonymously via advertising campaigns or other financially costly lobbying, while opponents considered it a serious restriction of
212:
The regulation of third parties also extends to their finances. The Act requires that third parties disclose all donations they receive over $ 5000. Anonymous donations that third parties receive over this level must be given to the State.
348:, who said at its introduction "The package of reforms introduced to Parliament will help promote participation in parliamentary democracy, and aims to clean up New Zealand's electoral system and protect it from abuse."
245:, and the Royal New Zealand Forest and Bird Society argued the definition will catch not just electoral speech, but almost all political speech – including things like placards at protest marches.
273:
287:
Criticism has also been made over the process that led to the Bill's introduction, which involved discussions only with the Labour
Government's supporting parties and not the Opposition.
1063:
194:
The Act amended numerous areas of New
Zealand electoral law, but was repealed on 17 February 2009. Principally and most controversially it regulated "third party" election campaigns
434:
allow the
Government to introduce changes during the Committee of the Whole House without the public being able to make submissions on the new provisions. Then Prime Minister
310:
the contributions of foreign donors to third parties; and both require the identity of third party donors to be made public. That is how modern democracies conduct themselves.
209:
The Bill originally limited the spending of registered third parties on political advertising to $ 60,000, but this was later increased to $ 120,000 by the Select Committee.
1179:
917:
328:, drew over 2,000 protestors. A second Auckland protest, on 1 December 2007, drew a crowd of around 5,000. Smaller protests were held in Wellington and Christchurch.
947:
541:. The new law set the regulated period for election advertising as beginning two years and nine months after the previous election, banned the use of
1209:
534:
said during debate on the repeal bill that all parties in Parliament had agreed to take part in consultations to draft replacement electoral law.
1093:
1071:
1035:
554:
171:
372:
described Crown Law's opinion as "...one of the worst, most politically expedient calls on New Zealand human rights legislation in memory."
1264:
559:
658:
581:
1153:
688:
206:
The Bill as introduced required that unregistered third parties file statutory declarations before publishing election advertisements.
1309:
315:
But, in New Zealand, it is still acceptable (at least to the National Party) for those with the most money to have the most say."
1187:
474:, who became Minister of Justice following a Cabinet reshuffle on 31 October 2007, announced a number of changes to the Bill.
364:
must advise Parliament at the introduction of a bill if that bill is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The
167:
977:
925:
617:
281:
820:
465:
48:
794:
454:
385:
357:
761:
955:
636:
542:
538:
461:
342:
256:
was a "danger to democracy". On 6 October 2007 the Free Speech Coalition was formed by prominent right-wing bloggers
253:
252:, also opposed the Bill. Political commentator Matthew Hooton argued that the Bill should not proceed, and that the
1299:
1294:
1239:
484:
Increasing the cap on election advertising before they have to register under the new law from $ 5,000 to $ 12,000;
1122:
866:
569:
537:
Parliament eventually passed the Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Bill 116–5 ahead of the
526:
365:
361:
296:
991:
1304:
839:
719:
397:
231:
779:
596:
115:
125:
105:
237:
The broad definition of "election advertisement" came in for particular criticism. Critics, including the
1217:
564:
401:
257:
249:
1097:
393:
586:
951:
531:
381:
369:
345:
90:
368:, which undertook the review, concluded that the Bill was consistent with the Bill of Rights. The
450:
238:
591:
1213:
1127:
1067:
871:
844:
724:
662:
38:
1157:
692:
627:
446:
696:
8:
413:
140:
1183:
632:
613:
430:
389:
277:
242:
921:
895:
918:"Electoral Finance Bill: Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990"
1036:"Submission to the Justice and Electoral Committee on the Electoral Finance Bill"
417:
409:
265:
179:
449:, submitted in favour of the need for changes to New Zealand electoral law. The
587:
Knowledge Basket – Clause by clause analysis of the Bill; Full text of the Bill
261:
405:
294:
had harsh criticism of the detractors of the Act in several opinion pieces in
30:
1288:
325:
291:
798:
481:
Increasing the cap on total third party spending from $ 60,000 to $ 120,000;
182:, and further regarded spending private money on political campaigning as a
1009:
471:
269:
55:
545:
funding for electoral purposes, and increased spending and donation caps.
622:
442:
435:
380:
The Bill passed its first reading on 27 July by 65 votes to 54, with the
324:
On 17 November 2007 a protest in Auckland against the Bill, organised by
222:
and third parties must follow election rules, and spending limits apply.
163:
183:
508:
The Committee of the whole House stage began on 3 December 2007.
170:
introduced the Electoral Finance Bill partly in response to the
150:
592:
Coalition for Open Government- supports Electoral Finance Bill
992:"Government open to suggestions for electoral finance reform"
468:
on 18 November 2007, and recommended that the Bill proceed.
1013:
582:
New Zealand Parliament – Text of the Electoral Finance Bill
429:
Public submissions on the Bill closed on 7 September 2007.
1123:"Revamp of finance bill removes 'unintended consequences'"
720:"Electoral law review lacks credibility thanks to process"
1096:. New Zealand Government. 31 October 2007. Archived from
500:
the Māori party voting two of its four votes in favour.
1094:"Ministerial List for Announcement on 31 October 2007"
597:
Kill the Bill Campaign- opposes Electoral Finance Bill
490:
Increasing the corruption penalties to $ 100,000 fine.
792:
756:
754:
752:
750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
628:
The Hollow Men: A Study in the Politics of Deception
520:
887:
795:"Kill the Bill: Kill The Bill Campaign Launched!!"
780:"Lobby Groups Unhappy With Electoral Finance Bill"
1148:
1146:
1064:"Reported by the Justice and Electoral Committee"
1010:"MPs told bill would not stop Brethren campaigns"
978:"Strong Reservations Over Electoral Finance Bill"
739:
610:Electoral Law in New Zealand: Practice and Policy
1286:
1265:"Government backtracks on electoral finance law"
893:
682:
680:
487:Changing the definition of election advertising;
1172:
503:
1240:"Parliament passes new electoral finance laws"
1143:
1086:
821:"Electoral bill 'backward step' – Law Society"
686:
1180:"Controversial Electoral Finance Bill passed"
970:
837:
813:
677:
555:2005 New Zealand election funding controversy
172:2005 New Zealand election funding controversy
1058:
1056:
717:
174:, in particular to "third-party" campaigns.
1154:"Electoral Finance Bill passes 2nd reading"
1115:
1041:. New Zealand Law Society. 4 September 2007
984:
910:
772:
689:"Justice minister is a danger to democracy"
341:The Bill was introduced on 23 July 2007 by
940:
653:
651:
29:
1053:
786:
840:"Protest against Electoral Finance Bill"
793:Free Speech Coalition (6 October 2007).
711:
331:
197:
648:
1287:
1002:
896:"Electoral finance changes announced"
282:Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand
1028:
980:. Radio New Zealand. 31 August 2007.
274:New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society
455:New Zealand Human Rights Commission
424:
358:New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
216:
13:
1216:. 17 February 2009. Archived from
1186:. 18 December 2007. Archived from
1156:. 22 November 2007. Archived from
1070:. 19 November 2007. Archived from
867:"Protestors send a strong message"
838:Rebecca Lewis (18 November 2007).
248:The parliamentary opposition, the
14:
1321:
894:Hon. Mark Burton (23 July 2007).
687:Matthew Hooton (12 August 2007).
575:
494:
351:
1310:Repealed New Zealand legislation
1210:"Electoral Finance Act repealed"
954:. 4 October 2007. Archived from
521:Royal Assent and eventual repeal
511:
375:
16:Act of Parliament in New Zealand
1257:
1232:
1202:
948:"Crony Watch special: the Sims"
602:
570:Electoral system of New Zealand
336:
272:Party, to oppose the Bill. The
924:. 26 June 2007. Archived from
859:
831:
718:Audrey Young (14 April 2007).
225:
1:
762:"Electoral bill no one wants"
642:
232:Coalition for Open Government
504:Committee of the whole House
457:submitted against the Bill.
7:
612:. Wellington: Lexis-Nexis.
565:Constitution of New Zealand
548:
319:
162:was a controversial act in
10:
1326:
400:voting in favour, and the
160:Electoral Finance Act 2007
24:Electoral Finance Act 2007
782:. Newswire. 24 July 2007.
464:reported the Bill to the
441:Investigative journalist
300:. On 17 August he wrote
189:
146:
139:
134:
124:
114:
104:
96:
85:
80:
72:
64:
54:
44:
37:
28:
23:
952:National Business Review
898:. New Zealand Government
659:"Electoral Finance Bill"
631:. Nelson: Craig Potton.
477:These changes included:
466:House of Representatives
370:National Business Review
284:also opposed the Bill.
49:House of Representatives
1300:2007 in New Zealand law
1295:Statutes of New Zealand
608:Geddis, Andrew (2007).
560:Campaign finance reform
451:New Zealand Law Society
356:Under section 7 of the
239:New Zealand Law Society
168:Fifth Labour Government
1214:Television New Zealand
1128:The New Zealand Herald
1068:New Zealand Parliament
996:The New Zealand Herald
872:The New Zealand Herald
845:The New Zealand Herald
825:The New Zealand Herald
766:The New Zealand Herald
725:The New Zealand Herald
663:New Zealand Parliament
290:Political commentator
39:New Zealand Parliament
693:The Sunday Star-Times
543:Parliamentary Service
539:2011 general election
332:Parliamentary process
198:Third party campaigns
1305:Election legislation
827:. 28 September 2007.
699:on 30 September 2007
1160:on 31 December 2007
1074:on 23 November 2007
1016:. 20 September 2007
998:. 4 September 2007.
801:on 31 December 2007
414:Taito Phillip Field
343:Minister of Justice
254:Minister of Justice
241:, Catholic charity
135:Related legislation
81:Legislative history
1131:. 19 November 2007
958:on 11 October 2007
928:on 12 October 2007
665:. 19 December 2007
141:Electoral Act 1993
1190:on 2 January 2008
1184:Radio New Zealand
1103:on 1 October 2008
875:. 3 December 2007
768:. 11 August 2007.
618:978-0-408-71836-3
431:Radio New Zealand
408:and independents
297:The Dominion Post
278:NORML New Zealand
156:
155:
1317:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1275:
1261:
1255:
1254:
1252:
1250:
1236:
1230:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1206:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1195:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1150:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1136:
1119:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1102:
1090:
1084:
1083:
1081:
1079:
1060:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1040:
1032:
1026:
1025:
1023:
1021:
1006:
1000:
999:
988:
982:
981:
974:
968:
967:
965:
963:
944:
938:
937:
935:
933:
922:Crown Law Office
914:
908:
907:
905:
903:
891:
885:
884:
882:
880:
863:
857:
856:
854:
852:
835:
829:
828:
817:
811:
810:
808:
806:
797:. Archived from
790:
784:
783:
776:
770:
769:
758:
737:
736:
734:
732:
715:
709:
708:
706:
704:
695:. Archived from
684:
675:
674:
672:
670:
655:
527:Governor-General
462:Select committee
425:Select Committee
416:voting against.
366:Crown Law Office
362:Attorney-General
268:, leader of the
217:Regulated period
130:18 December 2007
120:22 November 2007
76:17 February 2009
68:20 December 2007
60:19 December 2007
33:
21:
20:
1325:
1324:
1320:
1319:
1318:
1316:
1315:
1314:
1285:
1284:
1283:
1273:
1271:
1263:
1262:
1258:
1248:
1246:
1238:
1237:
1233:
1223:
1221:
1220:on 17 June 2011
1208:
1207:
1203:
1193:
1191:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1161:
1152:
1151:
1144:
1134:
1132:
1121:
1120:
1116:
1106:
1104:
1100:
1092:
1091:
1087:
1077:
1075:
1062:
1061:
1054:
1044:
1042:
1038:
1034:
1033:
1029:
1019:
1017:
1008:
1007:
1003:
990:
989:
985:
976:
975:
971:
961:
959:
946:
945:
941:
931:
929:
916:
915:
911:
901:
899:
892:
888:
878:
876:
865:
864:
860:
850:
848:
836:
832:
819:
818:
814:
804:
802:
791:
787:
778:
777:
773:
760:
759:
740:
730:
728:
716:
712:
702:
700:
685:
678:
668:
666:
657:
656:
649:
645:
605:
578:
551:
523:
514:
506:
497:
427:
410:Gordon Copeland
378:
354:
339:
334:
322:
266:Bernard Darnton
228:
219:
200:
192:
180:civil liberties
45:Enacted by
17:
12:
11:
5:
1323:
1313:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1282:
1281:
1256:
1231:
1201:
1171:
1142:
1114:
1085:
1052:
1027:
1001:
983:
969:
939:
909:
886:
858:
830:
812:
785:
771:
738:
710:
676:
646:
644:
641:
640:
639:
620:
604:
601:
600:
599:
594:
589:
584:
577:
576:External links
574:
573:
572:
567:
562:
557:
550:
547:
522:
519:
513:
510:
505:
502:
496:
495:Second reading
493:
492:
491:
488:
485:
482:
447:The Hollow Men
426:
423:
421:January 2008.
402:National Party
377:
374:
353:
352:Bill of Rights
350:
338:
335:
333:
330:
321:
318:
317:
316:
312:
311:
306:
305:
262:Cameron Slater
250:National Party
227:
224:
218:
215:
199:
196:
191:
188:
154:
153:
144:
143:
137:
136:
132:
131:
128:
122:
121:
118:
116:Second reading
112:
111:
108:
102:
101:
98:
94:
93:
87:
83:
82:
78:
77:
74:
70:
69:
66:
62:
61:
58:
52:
51:
46:
42:
41:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1322:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1270:
1266:
1260:
1245:
1241:
1235:
1219:
1215:
1211:
1205:
1189:
1185:
1181:
1175:
1159:
1155:
1149:
1147:
1130:
1129:
1124:
1118:
1099:
1095:
1089:
1073:
1069:
1065:
1059:
1057:
1037:
1031:
1015:
1011:
1005:
997:
993:
987:
979:
973:
957:
953:
949:
943:
927:
923:
919:
913:
897:
890:
874:
873:
868:
862:
847:
846:
841:
834:
826:
822:
816:
800:
796:
789:
781:
775:
767:
763:
757:
755:
753:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
727:
726:
721:
714:
698:
694:
690:
683:
681:
664:
660:
654:
652:
647:
638:
637:1-877333-62-X
634:
630:
629:
624:
621:
619:
615:
611:
607:
606:
598:
595:
593:
590:
588:
585:
583:
580:
579:
571:
568:
566:
563:
561:
558:
556:
553:
552:
546:
544:
540:
535:
533:
528:
518:
512:Third reading
509:
501:
489:
486:
483:
480:
479:
478:
475:
473:
469:
467:
463:
458:
456:
452:
448:
444:
439:
438:denied this.
437:
432:
422:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
394:United Future
391:
387:
383:
376:First reading
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
349:
347:
344:
329:
327:
326:John Boscawen
314:
313:
308:
307:
303:
302:
301:
299:
298:
293:
292:Chris Trotter
288:
285:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
246:
244:
240:
235:
233:
223:
214:
210:
207:
204:
195:
187:
185:
181:
175:
173:
169:
165:
161:
152:
149:
145:
142:
138:
133:
129:
127:
126:Third reading
123:
119:
117:
113:
109:
107:
106:First reading
103:
99:
95:
92:
88:
86:Introduced by
84:
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
57:
53:
50:
47:
43:
40:
36:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1272:. Retrieved
1268:
1259:
1247:. Retrieved
1243:
1234:
1222:. Retrieved
1218:the original
1204:
1192:. Retrieved
1188:the original
1174:
1162:. Retrieved
1158:the original
1133:. Retrieved
1126:
1117:
1105:. Retrieved
1098:the original
1088:
1076:. Retrieved
1072:the original
1043:. Retrieved
1030:
1018:. Retrieved
1004:
995:
986:
972:
960:. Retrieved
956:the original
942:
930:. Retrieved
926:the original
912:
900:. Retrieved
889:
877:. Retrieved
870:
861:
849:. Retrieved
843:
833:
824:
815:
803:. Retrieved
799:the original
788:
774:
765:
729:. Retrieved
723:
713:
701:. Retrieved
697:the original
667:. Retrieved
626:
623:Hager, Nicky
609:
603:Bibliography
536:
524:
515:
507:
498:
476:
472:Annette King
470:
459:
445:, author of
440:
428:
379:
355:
340:
337:Introduction
323:
295:
289:
286:
270:Libertarianz
258:David Farrar
247:
236:
229:
220:
211:
208:
205:
203:Commission.
201:
193:
176:
159:
157:
147:
110:27 July 2007
100:26 July 2007
56:Royal assent
18:
1244:The Beehive
1194:18 December
851:18 November
669:19 December
532:Simon Power
443:Nicky Hager
436:Helen Clark
406:Māori Party
398:Progressive
346:Mark Burton
226:Controversy
164:New Zealand
91:Mark Burton
1289:Categories
1274:4 November
1249:4 November
1164:4 December
1135:4 December
1107:4 December
1078:4 December
879:4 December
643:References
453:, and the
280:, and the
184:democratic
97:Introduced
1269:NZ Herald
902:13 August
805:7 October
731:13 August
65:Commenced
625:(2006).
549:See also
390:NZ First
320:Protests
151:Repealed
73:Repealed
1045:10 July
1020:10 July
962:10 June
932:10 June
703:12 July
243:Caritas
186:right.
148:Status:
635:
616:
517:vote.
386:Greens
382:Labour
360:, the
264:, and
190:Effect
166:. The
1224:7 May
1101:(DOC)
1039:(PDF)
89:Hon.
1276:2020
1251:2020
1226:2009
1196:2007
1166:2007
1137:2007
1109:2007
1080:2007
1047:2007
1022:2007
1014:NZPA
964:2007
934:2007
904:2007
881:2007
853:2007
807:2007
733:2007
705:2007
671:2007
633:ISBN
614:ISBN
525:The
460:The
412:and
396:and
276:and
260:and
230:The
158:The
418:ACT
1291::
1267:.
1242:.
1212:.
1182:.
1145:^
1125:.
1066:.
1055:^
1012:.
994:.
950:.
920:.
869:.
842:.
823:.
764:.
741:^
722:.
691:.
679:^
661:.
650:^
404:,
392:,
388:,
384:,
1278:.
1253:.
1228:.
1198:.
1168:.
1139:.
1111:.
1082:.
1049:.
1024:.
966:.
936:.
906:.
883:.
855:.
809:.
735:.
707:.
673:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
