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About New Zealand's electoral agencies

Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is responsible for the administration of parliamentary elections and referenda, the delivery of enrolment services, the allocation of time and money for the broadcast of election programmes, servicing the work of the Representation Commission, and the provision of advice, reports and public education on electoral matters.

On 1 July 2012 the statutory responsibilities of the Electoral Enrolment Centre of NZ Post will be transferred to the Commission in accordance with the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2011. After the transfer the EEC will continue to provide enrolment services under contract to the Commission.

 

Chair
Hon Justice Sir Hugh Williams QC, Auckland. KCNZM, LLM (Hons), LLB
Hon Justice Sir Hugh Williams was appointed as a Judge of the High Court in 1995 and retired from the Bench in 2009, but still holds an acting warrant. He previously served as a Master of the High Court for four years. For many years he was the Chancellor of Massey University. Sir Hugh was appointed as the President of the existing Electoral Commission in 2009.
 
Hon Justice Sir Hugh Williams offers the Commission strong legal leadership. He has a long-standing involvement in the administration of justice and significant governance experience as a highly engaged University Chancellor. As the President of the existing Electoral Commission, he is well informed on the issues and complexities associated with preparations for the next General Election and his appointment provides valuable continuity.
 
Deputy Chair
Jane Huria, LLB, FIODNZ, FNZIOD
Jane Huria is a professional company director. She is a director and shareholder of HSR Governance, a company which specialises in governance, strategy, and review, and is a board member of the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Red Cross Commission Canterbury Earthquake 2011 Trust, Winter Games New Zealand, and she chairs Ngai Tahu-mandated health and social services He Oranga Pounamu. She is also chair of the Advisory Board to trustees of the Christchurch Earthquake Trust and she serves from time to time as a lay member of the Health Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal. Ms Huria is Ngai Tahu and affiliates to Ngai Tuahuriri.
  
Chief Electoral Officer
Robert Peden, Wellington. BA/LLB (Hons)
Mr Peden has been the Chief Electoral Officer since 2006 and is a member of the Representation Commission, which determines electorate boundaries. He has worked in the areas of electoral policy, legislation and administration for almost 15 years.

Electoral Enrolment Centre

The Electoral Enrolment Centre maintains electoral rolls and conducts the Maori Electoral Option. The centre is a self-contained business unit of New Zealand Post Ltd, and from 1 July 2012 delivers enrolment services under contract to the Electoral Commission. The centre has a team of Registrars of Electors responsible for compiling and maintaining the electoral rolls for their electorate. As well as maintaining the electoral rolls on a daily basis and conducting enrolment update campaigns prior to all major electoral events, the Registrars also work in their local communities to encourage eligible electors to enrol. This is to ensure the maximum number of eligible electors are enrolled to vote in Parliamentary, local council and district health board elections, by-elections, referenda and polls.

National Manager: Murray Wicks
Manager Policy & Administration: Rex Arrell
Manager Operations: Mark Johns
Information Services Manager: Bob Chandler

PO Box 190, Wellington, New Zealand
Level 2, Mainzeal Building, 181 Vivian Street, Wellington
Phone: +64 4 801 0700
Fax: +64 4 801 0709

You can find contact information for your local registrar of electors here.

Representation Commission

The Representation Commission is an independent statutory body that determines the boundaries of General electorates and Maori electorates after each five-yearly population census and Maori Electoral Option. The electoral boundaries were last updated in September 2007.

The Representation Commission for General electorates has seven members:

  • Four people are members of the Representation Commission ex officio: the Government Statistician, the Surveyor-General, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Chairperson of the Local Government Commission.
  • Two members are appointed by the Governor-General. One represents the party or parties in Government, and the other represents the party or parties in Opposition.
  • A chairperson (normally a District Court judge) is nominated by the other members of the Representation Commission (except the Chairperson of the Local Government Commission), and is appointed by the Governor-General.

When the boundaries of the Maori electorates are to be drawn, the Commission is joined by three more members:

  • The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Maori Development (Te Puni Kokiri) ex officio.
  • Two further members appointed by the Governor-General, each of whom must be Maori. One represents the party or parties in Government, and the other represents the party or parties in Opposition.

The Commission is serviced by the Electoral Commission.

Justice Sector

The electoral agencies do their jobs independently and impartially in accordance with electoral law.  They are part of the Justice Sector and funded from Vote Justice, which is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice.  The Ministry of Justice has primary responsibility for policy development.