2009 media releases
- ARTICLES
Electoral Commission President Appointed
Hon Justice Hugh Williams QC has been appointed by the Governor-General as President of the Electoral Commission for a term of two years, Justice Minister Simon Power announced. Read more »
Annual report 2009
The Annual Report of the Electoral Commission for the year ended 30 Jun 2009 was tabled in the House on 10 November 2009. Read more »
New list MP for Green Party
The Chief Electoral Officer has declared David Clendon from Auckland to be elected to Parliament from the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand list. Read more »
Final result of the citizens initiated referendum
The Chief Electoral Officer has released the final result of the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”. Read more »
Preliminary result of citizens initiated referendum
The Chief Electoral Officer has released the preliminary result of the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”. Read more »
Referendum voting closes
Voting in the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” has closed (7.00pm Friday 21 August). Read more »
Referendum voting closes today
Voting in the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” closes today at 7pm. Voting papers must be postmarked no later than 21 August to count. Read more »
Citizens initiated referendum result release details
The Chief Electoral Officer aims to release the preliminary result of the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” by 8.30pm on Friday 21 August. Read more »
Five days left to vote in citizens initiated referendum
Time is running out to take part in the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” – with just five days left for people to vote. Read more »
Number of referendum votes cast to date
As at 5.00pm Thursday 13 August 1,330,900 votes had been received by the Chief Electoral Office vote processing centre for the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand”. Read more »
Delivery of referendum voting papers complete
All referendum voting papers have been delivered to voters, with over half a million votes cast so far. Read more »
Number of referendum votes cast to date
As at 5.00pm Thursday 6 August, 570,300 votes had been received by the Chief Electoral Office vote processing centre for the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand”. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions released
The Electoral Commission published 6 decisions today relating to returns from parties or third parties. Read more »
Voting in citizens initiated referendum opens tomorrow (Friday 31 July)
Voting in the country’s first ever Citizens Initiated Referendum held through the mail starts tomorrow (Friday 31 July 2009). Read more »
One week to go until referendum voting starts
Voting in the Citizens Initiated Referendum starts in less than a week – with time running out to enrol to take part. Read more »
Referendum deadline only hours away
A deadline for taking part in the referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” is just hours away. Read more »
Cancellation of Registration of Party
Pursuant to Part 4 of the Electoral Act 1993, the Electoral Commission resolved on 30 June 2009 to cancel the registration of Direct Democracy Party and The Republic of New Zealand Party at both parties requests. Read more »
25,000 People take action to take part in Referendum
More than 25,000 people have responded to the call to get enrolled or update their enrolment details to take part in the upcoming referendum - but there are still many more who need to take action today. Read more »
Mt Albert by-election official results
The Chief Electoral Officer has released the official results for the 13 June Parliamentary by-election in the electorate of Mt Albert. Read more »
New Electoral Commission Chief Executive
David Henry has been appointed by the Governor- General as a Member and Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission for a term of one year. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions released
The Electoral Commission published 8 decisions today relating to late returns from parties or third parties. None of these decisions have been referred to the Police. Read more »
New list MP for New Zealand National Party
The Chief Electoral Officer has declared Dr Cam Calder from Devonport to be elected to Parliament from the New Zealand National Party list. Read more »
Citizens Initiated Referendum media kit
Background information in relation to the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question "should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Read more »
2009 Citizens Initiated Referendum launched
The official campaign has started to make it easy for people to take part in the Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”. Read more »
Mt Albert by-election preliminary results
The Chief Electoral Officer has released the preliminary results for the 13 June Parliamentary by-election in the electorate of Mt Albert. Read more »
Mt Albert by-election voting closed
Voting in the Mt Albert by-election has closed. Check www.electionresults.govt.nz for the results. Read more »
Mt Albert by-election voting opens
Voting in the Mt Albert by-election is open. Read more »
Mt Albert by-election:guidance for election day
Guidance from the Chief Electoral Officer about election day rules and activity. Read more »
Mt Albert by-election voting tips
The Chief Electoral Officer has two pieces of advice for voters in Saturday’s Mt Albert by-election - take your EasyVote card and go with a friend or family member if that would help. Read more »
Time running out to take part in Mt Albert by-election
Time is running out to get enrolled for the Mt Albert by-election – with just one week left until enrolment shuts off. Read more »
Voting made easy in Mt Albert by-election
More than 43,000 Aucklanders are about to have their voting experience in the Mt Albert by-election made a lot easier with the delivery of personalised EasyVote cards and EasyVote information packs across the electorate. Read more »
By-election advance and overseas voting open
Advance voting and voting from overseas in the Mt Albert by-election is now open. Read more »
Voting opens in Mt Albert by-election tomorrow
The first votes in the Mt Albert by-election can be cast from tomorrow, Wednesday 27 May 2009, with the start of advance and overseas voting. Read more »
Release of Mt Albert by-election preliminary results
The Chief Electoral Officer has revised the target times for the release of the preliminary results of the Mt Albert by-election on Saturday 13 June. Read more »
Fifteen candidates stand in Mt Albert by-election
The Chief Electoral Office has released the details of who is standing and where people can vote in the 13 June Mt Albert by-election. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions released
The Electoral Commission published 12 decisions today relating to late or incomplete returns from parties or third parties. Offences were believed to have been committed in seven cases, however these were inconsequential and so were not referred to the Police. Read more »
Did a txt reminder on election day increase voter turnout? - research report
In a controlled experiment on New Zealand’s parliamentary election day in 2008 those who received a txt (SMS) message from the “orange elections guy” reminding them to vote had a 4.7% point higher turnout than those who did not receive the txt message. Read more »
Governor-General issues writ for Mt Albert by-election
The Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, has issued the writ to the Chief Electoral Officer, Robert Peden, giving the formal authority for a by-election to be held in the Mt Albert electorate on Saturday 13 June. Read more »
Monday 11 May cut off to making voting easer in Mt Albert by-election
People in the Mt Albert electorate have less than a week to enrol or update their enrolment details to make voting as easy as possible in the 13 June by-election. Read more »
Young people, those who've moved house and migrants targeted in Mt Albert by-election
People who’ve moved in or within the Mt Albert electorate or who weren’t enrolled for last year’s general election need to enrol now for the Saturday 13 June by-election. Read more »
Chief Electoral Office prepares for voting in Mt Albert electorate
The Chief Electoral Office is preparing to make it easy for voters to take part in the Parliamentary by-election in the Mt Albert electorate on Saturday 13 June. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions on electoral finance matters
In a series of seven decisions released today the Electoral Commission finds that: five parties committed offences by filing their returns of election expenses late without reasonable excuse, two parties committed offences by paying election expenses after the last legal date, and that in all seven cases the offending was so inconsequential to the public interest that it will not be reported to the Police. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions on election advertising and donations matters
In decisions published today The Family Party is referred to the Police for late filing of a return of donation exceeding $20,000, and no action would be taken if a hedge pruned with the word "Green" was found to be an election advertisement because any contravention was not wilful and any offence inconsequential. Read more »
No change to requirement for elections expense returns for 2008 election
The Electoral Commission has sent the following message to parties and third parties. You may have heard in the news today that the Electoral Amendment Bill has been introduced to parliament. Read more »
Electoral Commission decisions on election advertising and broadcasting matters
Two decisions released today: an unsatisfactory promoter statement on a CD label would be inconsequential if the item was an advertisement; and the Police are to be advised of an election advertisement broadcast before the first permissable date. Read more »