New Zealand
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
Ban applies to 'overseas donations' exceeding $1,500 [I$ 1,000].
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Ban applies to 'overseas donations' exceeding $1,500 [I$ 1,000].
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
Anonymous donations must not exceed $1,500 [I$ 1,000], or?$42,225 [I$ 29,000] (between two elections) if it is donated via the Electoral Commission. In the latter case, even the receiving party will not be informed of the identity of the donor.
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
Anonymous donations below $1,500 [I$ 1,000] are allowed.
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Government advertising must not be used for party political purposes.
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
No
|
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
|
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
No
|
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
|
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
Comment
Campaign funding provided for broadcasting only. Funding also provided for 'parliamentary purposes'.
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
Ongoing assistance available to political parties with Parliamentary representation. Campaign assistance (for broadcasting only) provided to all registered parties that applies for assistance.
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Comment
Campaign assistance for broadcasting only. Ongoing assistance cannot be used for campaigning.
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Both TV and radio.
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Comment
Votes and seats in previous election, but also 'any other indications of public support for that political?party such as the results of public opinion polls and the?number of persons who are members of that political?party' and 'the need to provide a fair opportunity for each political party'
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
No
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
Yes
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
$1,065,000 [I$ 743,000] plus $25,000 [I$17,000] per district contested
Comment
The Governor-General can set the limit to another amount.
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Yes
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
$25,000 [I$ 17,000] for general elections, $50,000 [I$ 35,000] for by-elections
Comment
The Governor-General can set the limit to another amount.
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annually
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
Identity must be disclosed if donations above $1,500 (candidates) or $15,000 [I$ 10,000] (parties). Also if above $1,500 [I$ 1,000] if a donation to a party comes from an overseas person.
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
EMB
Comment
Electoral Commission receives reports from both parties and candidates.
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Comment
The Electoral Commission reports suspicion of offences to the New Zealand police. |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
Non-submission of reports can lead to fines. If anonymous donations exceed $1,500 [I$ 1,000], exceeding amount must be paid to EMB. Person convicted of corrupt practices loses right to vote for 3 years, and face imprisonment not exceeding 2 years.In cases of corrupt or illegal campaign practices, the election of a candidate can be voided.
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