Source: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2010/0139/latest/whole.html
Timestamp: 2019-10-18 21:24:17
Document Index: 685156501

Matched Legal Cases: ['art\n42', 'art\n77', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 8', 'arts 6', 'art 2']

Electoral Referendum Act 2010 No 139 (as at 11 June 2012), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation
as at 11 June 2012
Public Act 2010 No 139
3 Application of Act to conduct outside New Zealand
8 Referendum on day of general election
9 Application of Electoral Act 1993
10 Manager, returning officer, polling place officials, and polling places
11 Who may vote
12 Issue of referendum voting paper
13 Method of voting
14 Provisions of 1993 Act not to apply to count of referendum votes
15 Time at which preliminary count of early votes must begin
16 Referendum voting papers sent to returning officer before being counted
17 Returning officer to count referendum votes for district
18 Return of results of count to Electoral Commission
19 Determination of results by Electoral Commission
20 Declaration of official result of referendum
21 Method of questioning referendum
22 Petition for inquiry
24 Procedural matters
25 Jurisdiction of High Court
26 Fresh referendum
27 Application of provisions of Electoral Act 1993 in respect of referendum
28 Time limit for prosecutions
31 Meaning of referendum advertisement
32 Meaning of referendum expenses
33 Meaning of publish
34 Meaning of regulated period
35 Electoral Commission to publish details of regulated period
36 Persons who may promote referendum advertisements
37 Maximum amount of registered promoter's total referendum expenses
38 Persons who may incur referendum expenses in relation to referendum advertisement
39 Apportionment of promoter's referendum expenses for publication of referendum advertisement both before and during the regulated period
40 Joint election and referendum advertisements
41 Obligation not to circumvent limitations imposed by this Part
42 Referendum advertisement to include promoter statement
43 Promoters eligible to be registered
44 Application for registration
45 Grounds on which registration must be refused
46 Electoral Commission's decision on application
47 Obligation to notify Electoral Commission of change in contact details
48 Cancellation of registration
49 Expiry of registration
50 Establishment of register
51 Purposes of register
52 Form of register
53 Alterations to register
54 Register to be public
55 Search of register
56 When search constitutes interference with privacy of individual
Obligation of unregistered promoters to keep records
57 Obligation to keep records necessary to verify unregistered promoter's referendum expenses
Claims for referendum expenses of registered promoters
58 Periods for claiming and paying registered promoter's referendum expenses
59 Procedure if claim disputed
60 Leave to pay claim after time limitation
61 Invoice and receipt required for referendum expenses of $50 or more
62 Return of registered promoter's referendum expenses
63 Obligation to keep records necessary to verify return of registered promoter's referendum expenses
64 Electoral Commission may require auditor's report on return of registered promoter's referendum expenses
65 Return of registered promoter's referendum expenses to be publicly available
66 Illegal practices
67 Offences relating to obligation to keep records
68 Offences relating to return of registered promoter's referendum expenses
69 Offence to pay referendum expenses in excess of maximum
70 Offence to incur unauthorised referendum expense
71 Punishment for corrupt or illegal practice
72 Time limit for prosecutions
73 Duty of Electoral Commission
74 Application of this subpart
77 Process for review
78 Report and recommendations
79 Validation of irregularities
81 Amendment to Privacy Act 1993
82 Amendment to Summary Proceedings Act 1957
(a) in New Zealand, in any case where the promoter of the advertisement is outside New Zealand; and
(b) outside New Zealand, in any case where the promoter of the advertisement is in New Zealand.
(a) if section 26 (which provides for a fresh referendum in the case of a successful petition) applies, this Act expires and is repealed 6 months after the date on which the result of the fresh referendum is declared:
(b) if section 74 (which provides for the circumstance when there must be a review of MMP) applies, subpart 1 of Part 4 expires and is repealed—
(i) on 1 November 2012; or
(ii) 6 months after the date on which the result of the fresh referendum is declared, in the event that section 74 applies as a consequence of a fresh referendum being held.
referendum means the indicative referendum of electors provided for by section 8
referendum voting paper means the voting paper the form of which is set out in Schedule 1.
(2) Schedule 2 sets out the key characteristics of—
(2) Section 167(3)(b) and (c) of the 1993 Act does not apply in respect of a referendum voting paper.
(b) in the case of the referendum, in accordance with the requirements of section 17, with any necessary modifications.
As soon as practicable after receiving the results of the count from each returning officer, the Electoral Commission must ascertain, from the results of the count returned by each returning officer under section 18,—
(1) The Electoral Commission must declare the result of the referendum by notice in the Gazette, giving—
(a) the total number of valid votes cast for each option in relation to the question in each Part of the referendum voting paper—
(i) for all districts combined; and
(ii) for each district separately; and
(b) the total number of informal votes cast in each Part of the referendum voting paper.
(1) If a group of 6 or more electors are dissatisfied with the result of the referendum, as declared by notice in the Gazette under section 20(1)(a), they may petition the High Court for an inquiry into the conduct of—
(a) the result declared under section 20(1)(a) was wrong; or
(a) not later than 28 days after publication of the Gazette notice under section 20(1); and
(4) The Registrar of the High Court where the petition is filed must send a copy of the petition to the Electoral Commission.
(2) If a petition relates to the conduct of the Electoral Commission or a returning officer, that person is a respondent to the petition.
(1) The provisions listed in subsection (2) apply to a referendum petition as if it were an election petition, to the extent that they are relevant and with any necessary modifications.
(2) The provisions that apply under subsection (1) are—
(a) the following sections of Part 8 of the 1993 Act (which relates to election petitions):
(i) sections 232 to 234 (which provide for security for costs, the hearing of more than 1 petition, and the making of rules of court for the purposes of petitions); and
(ii) sections 235, 236(2), (4), (5), and (6), 240, 241, 242, and 247 to 249 (which relate to the conduct of a trial of a petition); and
(iii) sections 250 to 255, and 256(1)(a) and (b) (which relate to costs, the withdrawal or abatement of a petition, and matters relevant to respondents); and
(iv) section 257 (which requires submission of the High Court's report to the Attorney-General); and
(b) the Constituency Election Petition Rules 2008.
(1) A referendum petition under this subpart must be tried in open court without a jury.
(3) Despite section 22(2), the court may, in its discretion, inquire into and adjudicate on any matter relevant to the petition including, in particular,—
(a) receiving evidence that the number of valid votes cast for an option, whether across all districts or in a particular district, was higher or lower than the number declared under section 20(1)(a) and (b):
(4) At the conclusion of the trial of a petition, the court must either—
(a) determine and declare—
(i) the total number of valid votes recorded for each option in each of Parts A and B of the referendum voting paper; and
(ii) the total number of informal votes cast; or
(b) declare that the referendum is void because of an irregularity that, in the opinion of the court, materially affected the result of the referendum.
(a) the Registrar of the court must notify the Electoral Commission that the referendum is void; and
(b) a fresh referendum must be held; and
(c) not later than 30 working days after a declaration is made under section 25(4)(b), the Governor-General, by Order in Council, must appoint the day for the fresh referendum to be held, which must not be later than 6 months after the date of the declaration; and
(d) the same roll of electors must be used at the fresh referendum as was used at the referendum declared to be void; and
(e) a fresh referendum must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Act, with any necessary modifications, and to the extent that they are relevant.
This Part applies, instead of Parts 6AA and 6A of the 1993 Act, to referendum advertisements unless otherwise expressly provided in this Part.
(ii) the full street address of any other place where that individual can usually be contacted between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm on any working day:
contact details for a person means that person's—
(b) telephone numbers; and
(c) email address (if any)
(a) is published; or
(b) is to be published
publish has the meaning given in section 33
referendum advertisement has the meaning given in section 31
referendum expenses has the meaning given in section 32
register means the register of registered promoters established and maintained under section 50
(a) means a promoter who is registered under section 46; and
(b) includes a promoter who at any time in the regulated period has been registered under section 46
regulated period has the meaning given in section 34.
(a) an advertisement that—
(i) is published, or caused or permitted to be published, by the Electoral Commission, the Chief Registrar of Electors, or any other agency charged with responsibilities in relation to the conduct of any official publicity or information campaign to be conducted on behalf of the Government of New Zealand; and
(ii) relates to electoral matters or the conduct of the general election or the referendum; and
(iii) contains either—
(A) a statement indicating that the advertisement has been authorised by that officer or agency; or
(B) a symbol indicating that the advertisement has been authorised by that officer or agency:
(b) the editorial content of—
(i) a periodical:
(ii) a radio or television programme:
(iii) a publication on a news media Internet site:
(d) any transmission (whether live or not) of proceedings in the House of Representatives:
(e) any publication on the Internet, or other electronic medium, of personal political views by an individual who does not make or receive a payment in respect of the publication.
(3) In this section, periodical means a newspaper, magazine, or trade or professional journal that—
(ii) generally available to members of the public.
(1) In this Part, referendum expenses—
(i) the cost incurred in the preparation, design, composition, printing, distribution, postage, and publication of a referendum advertisement; and
(ii) the reasonable market value of any material used for or applied towards the advertisement, including any such material that is provided free of charge or below reasonable market value; but
(i) the conduct of any survey or public opinion poll; and
(ii) any framework (other than a commercial framework) that supports a hoarding on which the advertisement is displayed; and
(iv) the replacement of any material used in respect of a referendum advertisement if that advertisement has been destroyed or rendered unusable by—
(A) 1 or more persons (other than the promoter or a person acting on his or her behalf):
(B) the occurrence of an event beyond the control of the promoter or a person acting on his or her or its behalf.
(2) To avoid doubt, referendum expenses does not include the cost (including running costs) of any vehicle used to display a referendum advertisement if the use of the vehicle for that purpose is not the subject of a contract, arrangement, or understanding, for the payment of money or money's worth.
(3) In this section, vehicle has the meaning given to it by section 2(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998.
(1) In this Act, regulated period, in relation to the referendum, has the meaning given to it by subsections (2) and (3).
(2) If before the close of the default day the Prime Minister gives public notice of the day that is to be polling day for the election, the regulated period—
(a) commences on the later of the following days:
(i) the day after the date on which the Prime Minister gives that public notice:
(ii) the day that is 3 months before polling day; and
(b) ends with the close of the day before polling day.
(3) If at the close of the default day the Prime Minister has not given public notice of the day that is to be polling day for the election, the regulated period—
(a) commences on the close of the default day; and
default day means the day that is 2 years and 9 months after polling day for the preceding general election
give public notice means issue a media statement.
The notice published under section 3C of the 1993 Act in relation to the general election must state that the regulated period for the referendum commenced and will end on the same dates as the regulated period for the general election.
(b) is an unregistered promoter who does not incur referendum expenses exceeding $12,000 (inclusive of goods and services tax) in relation to referendum advertisements published during the regulated period.
(1) The total referendum expenses of a registered promoter in respect of the regulated period must not exceed $300,000.
(2) The amount in subsection (1) is inclusive of goods and services tax.
(a) the promoter of the referendum advertisement; or
(b) a person authorised to incur referendum expenses in relation to the referendum advertisement by the promoter.
(1) This section applies if a referendum advertisement—
(a) is published both before the commencement of the regulated period and during the regulated period; or
(b) is published before the commencement of the regulated period and continues to be published during the regulated period.
(a) the referendum advertisement is deemed to have been published during the regulated period; and
(b) the referendum expenses for the publication of the referendum advertisement must be apportioned so that only a fair proportion of those expenses is attributed to the referendum advertising carried on during the regulated period.
(3) Only the referendum expenses attributed to the regulated period in accordance with subsection (2) are expenses for the purposes of sections 36(b) and 37.
(a) an election advertisement; and
(2) The promoter of the advertisement must count the sum of the referendum expenses and advertising expenses incurred in relation to the advertisement as both advertising expenses in relation to the election advertisement and referendum expenses.
(1) An unregistered promoter may not enter into an agreement, or enter into an arrangement or understanding, with another person for the purpose of circumventing the maximum amount prescribed in section 36(b).
(2) A body corporate or unincorporated may not encourage its members to take any action for the purpose of circumventing the maximum amount prescribed in section 36(b).
(3) No person may incorporate or form 2 or more bodies corporate or unincorporated for the purpose of circumventing the maximum amount prescribed in section 36(b).
(1) A person may publish or cause or permit to be published a referendum advertisement only if the advertisement includes a promoter statement.
(2) A promoter statement must state the name and address of the promoter of the referendum advertisement.
(3) If the promoter is a registered promoter, the name and address of the promoter stated in the promoter statement must be the same name and address of the promoter that appear in the register.
(4) If the promoter is an unregistered promoter and is a body corporate or unincorporated, the promoter statement must also include the name of a member of the body who is the duly authorised representative of the promoter.
(5) If the referendum advertisement is published in a visual form, the promoter statement must be clearly displayed in the advertisement.
(6) If the referendum advertisement is published only in an audible form, the promoter statement when published must be no less audible than the other content of the advertisement.
(1) A promoter (including a corporation sole, a body corporate, and an unincorporated body) is eligible to be a registered promoter if the promoter is not an overseas person.
(2) In this section, overseas person means—
(c) an unincorporated body that has its head office or principal base of business outside New Zealand.
(1) An application to be a registered promoter must be made to the Electoral Commission and made,—
(b) if the promoter is a company, by a person who is duly authorised by the board of directors to make the application; or
(c) if the promoter is not an individual or a company, by the promoter's representative who is duly authorised by the promoter to make the application.
(2) An application to be a registered promoter must be made in the form required by the Electoral Commission and set out—
(a) the name and contact details of—
(ii) the person described in subsection (1)(b) or (c), as the case may be, who made the application, if the promoter is not an individual; and
(b) the names of the persons occupying a position in the body that is comparable with that of a director of a company, if the promoter is not an individual or a company; and
(c) the names of the trustees, if the promoter is a trust.
(3) An application to be a registered promoter must be accompanied by evidence of the authority to make the application, if the application is made by a person described in subsection (1)(b) or (c).
(a) the application does not comply with section 44; or
(b) the Electoral Commission is not satisfied that the promoter is eligible under section 43 to be registered; or
(c) the name of the promoter is—
(i) indecent or offensive; or
(ii) likely to cause confusion or mislead electors.
(1) If there are no grounds under section 45 to refuse an application, the Electoral Commission must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving the application,—
(2) If there are grounds under section 45 to refuse an application, the Electoral Commission must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving the application,—
A registered promoter must give written notice to the Electoral Commission of any change in the information provided under section 44(2) within 10 working days after the change.
(1) The Electoral Commission must cancel the registration of a promoter if—
(a) the Electoral Commission is satisfied that the promoter is not eligible to be registered; or
(b) the promoter—
(i) requests that it do so; and
(ii) has not incurred expenses in relation to referendum advertisements that exceed the amount specified in section 36(b).
(2) If the Electoral Commission cancels the registration of a promoter under subsection (1), the Electoral Commission must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 10 working days after the date of the cancellation, give the promoter written notice of—
Unless earlier cancelled under section 48, a promoter's registration expires on the day provided for the expiry of this Act in section 5.
(2) The Electoral Commission must enter in the register, in relation to every registered promoter,—
(a) the name of the registered promoter; and
(b) the address of the registered promoter; and
(c) the names of persons set out in the promoter's application, if any, provided under section 44(2)(a)(ii), (b), and (c).
(a) to enable members of the public to ascertain—
(i) whether a person is a registered promoter and, if so, the address of that person; and
(ii) whether a referendum advertisement is promoted by a registered promoter; and
(a) reflect any changes in the information referred to in section 47; or
A person may search the register for a purpose set out in section 51.
A search of the register for personal information that has not been carried out for a purpose specified in section 51 constitutes an action that is an interference with the privacy of an individual under section 66 of the Privacy Act 1993.
(a) is an unregistered promoter:
(b) has been an unregistered promoter at any time during the regulated period.
(2) A promoter to whom this section applies must take all reasonable steps to keep the records, documents, and accounts that are necessary to enable verification of the referendum expenses incurred in relation to a referendum advertisement promoted while the promoter is not registered.
(3) Despite section 5, subsection (2) of this section applies until whichever is the earlier of—
(a) the close of the day that is 3 years after polling day for the general election; or
(b) if a fresh referendum is held under section 26, the close of the day that is 3 years after the date on which the result of the fresh referendum is declared.
(1) A claim against a registered promoter for payment of referendum expenses is recoverable only if it is sent to the registered promoter within 20 working days after the day on which the declaration required by section 179(2) of the 1993 Act is made in relation to the general election.
(2) A claim that is sent to a registered promoter in accordance with subsection (1) must be paid within 40 working days after the day on which that declaration is made, and not otherwise.
(3) This section is subject to sections 59 and 60.
(1) If a registered promoter, in the case of a claim for referendum expenses sent to the registered promoter within the period specified in section 58(1), disputes the claim, or fails to pay the claim within the period of 40 working days specified in section 58(2), then—
(a) the claim is to be treated as a disputed claim; and
(b) the claimant may, if he or she thinks fit, within 20 working days after the expiry of that period of 40 working days, bring an action for the disputed claim in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) Any sum paid by the registered promoter in accordance with a judgment or order of the court in any such action is to be treated as paid within the period specified in section 58(2).
(1) On the application of a claimant or a registered promoter, a District Court may make an order granting leave to the registered promoter to pay—
(a) a claim for referendum expenses sent after the period specified in section 58(1); or
(b) a claim not paid in the period specified in section 58(2); or
(c) a disputed claim in respect of which an action was not brought within the period specified in section 59(1)(b).
(2) Any sum paid by the registered promoter in accordance with an order made under subsection (1) is to be treated as having been paid within the period specified in section 58(2).
(1) Every payment made in respect of any referendum expenses of a registered promoter must be evidenced by an invoice stating the particulars, and by a receipt.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a payment of less than $50.
(1) This section applies to a registered promoter whose total referendum expenses in respect of any regulated period exceed $100,000 (inclusive of goods and services tax).
(2) Within 70 working days after polling day for the general election, the registered promoter must file a return of referendum expenses with the Electoral Commission.
(3) If the registered promoter is not an individual or a company, the return must be filed by the registered promoter's representative who is duly authorised to file the return.
(4) A return filed under subsection (2) must be in the form required by the Electoral Commission.
(1) A registered promoter must take all reasonable steps to keep all records, documents, and accounts that are reasonably necessary to enable a return filed under section 62(2) to be verified.
(2) Despite section 5, subsection (1) of this section applies until whichever is the earlier of—
(1) If the Electoral Commission has reasonable grounds to believe that a return filed under section 62 may contain any false or misleading information, the Electoral Commission may require the registered promoter (at the registered promoter's expense) to obtain a report on the return from an auditor.
(2) The auditor must state in the report—
(a) the position shown by the return in respect of the requirement that the registered promoter's total referendum expenses must not exceed the maximum amount specified in section 37; and
(i) whether, in the auditor's opinion, the position stated under paragraph (a) is correct; or
(ii) that the auditor has been unable to form an opinion as to whether the position stated under paragraph (a) is correct.
(3) The auditor must make any examinations that the auditor considers necessary.
(4) The auditor must specify in the report any case in which—
(a) the auditor has not received from the registered promoter all the information that the auditor requires to carry out his or her duties; or
(b) proper records of the registered promoter's referendum expenses have not, in the auditor's opinion, been kept by the registered promoter.
(5) The auditor—
(a) must have access at all reasonable times to all records, documents, and accounts that relate to the registered promoter's referendum expenses and that are held by the registered promoter; and
(b) may require the registered promoter to provide any information and explanation that, in the auditor's opinion, may be necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
(1) The Electoral Commission may publish, in any manner that the Electoral Commission considers appropriate, every return filed under section 62.
(2) During the public inspection period, the Electoral Commission must make available for public inspection a copy of every return filed under section 62.
(3) The Electoral Commission may make inspection under subsection (2) subject to the payment of any charges that may be made under the Official Information Act 1982.
(4) In this section, public inspection period, in relation to a return, means the period—
(a) beginning on the day that is 3 working days after the date on which the Electoral Commission receives the return; and
(b) ending with the close of polling day for the second general election that takes place after that date.
Every person is guilty of an illegal practice who wilfully—
(a) promotes a referendum advertisement without being entitled to do so under section 36:
(b) contravenes section 41:
(c) contravenes section 42:
(d) makes a payment in breach of section 58.
Every person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 57(2) or 63 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $40,000.
(1) A registered promoter who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 62(2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $40,000.
(2) A registered promoter who files a return under section 62(2) that is false in any material particular is guilty of—
(a) a corrupt practice if the registered promoter filed the return knowing it to be false in any material particular:
(b) an illegal practice in any other case, unless the registered promoter proves that—
(i) he or she had no intention to misstate or conceal the facts; and
(ii) he or she took all reasonable steps in the circumstances to ensure that the information was accurate.
(3) If the registered promoter is not an individual or a company, the registered promoter's representative who files the return in accordance with section 62(3) is liable under subsections (1) and (2).
(4) Subsection (3) does not limit the liability of a registered promoter under subsection (1) or (2).
(1) This section applies to a registered promoter or any other person who directly or indirectly pays or knowingly aids or abets any person in paying for or on account of any referendum expenses any sum in excess of the maximum amount specified in section 37.
(2) The registered promoter or other person is guilty of—
(a) a corrupt practice if he or she knew the payment was in excess of the specified maximum amount; or
(b) an illegal practice in any other case, unless he or she proves that he or she took all reasonable steps to ensure that the referendum expenses did not exceed the specified maximum amount.
(3) Every person who enters into an agreement or enters into an arrangement or understanding with any other person for the purpose of circumventing the maximum amount specified in section 37 is guilty of a corrupt practice.
(a) a corrupt practice who wilfully contravenes section 38; and
(b) an illegal practice who contravenes section 38 in any other case.
(1) Every person who is guilty of a corrupt practice is liable on conviction on indictment to either or both of the following:
(a) a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years:
(b) a fine not exceeding $100,000.
(2) Every person who is guilty of an illegal practice is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding $40,000.
(3) Section 100 of the 1993 Act applies to a person who is guilty of a corrupt practice under this Act as if the person were guilty of a corrupt practice under the 1993 Act and the reference to an election petition were a reference to a referendum petition tried by the High Court under section 25 of this Act.
(1) A prosecution under this Part must be commenced—
(2) Subsection (1) applies whether or not registration has been cancelled under section 48 or has expired under section 49.
(1) If the Electoral Commission believes that any person has committed an offence under this Part, it must report the facts on which that belief is based to the New Zealand Police.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the Electoral Commission considers that the offence is so inconsequential that there is no public interest in reporting those facts to the New Zealand Police.
This subpart applies if the Electoral Commission makes a declaration in accordance with section 20 that the option in Part A of the referendum voting paper favouring retention of the mixed member proportional representation voting system is supported by 50% or more of the valid votes cast in relation to Part A.
(a) prepare a report of the review that includes recommendations on whether any change to the mixed member proportional representation voting system is necessary or desirable; and
(b) provide the report to the Minister of Justice by 31 October 2012.
(1) This section applies if anything required to be done in relation to the conduct of the referendum by or under sections 8 to 20 or any regulations under this Act—
(a) is not done at the time required; or
(b) cannot be done at the time required; or
(c) is done before or after the time required; or
(d) is done in any other irregular manner or form.
(c) validate anything irregularly done in manner or form.
(3) However, this section does not apply to any matter described in subsection (1) if the High Court finds that the irregularity has materially affected the result of the referendum.
(b) prescribing fees for the purposes of this Act:
(c) providing for matters that are contemplated by, necessary for the administration of, or necessary for giving full effect to this Act.
Electoral Referendum Act 2010 Sections 50 and 65
Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 is amended by inserting the following item after the item relating to the Electoral Act 1993:
ss 6(1), 8(1)
s 22(3)(b)
Section 22(3)(b), Electoral Referendum Act 2010
*(b) the conduct of [name of person complained of, office described in section 23(2), if relevant, address], who was connected with the referendum.