Election type

Legislative Elections

All registered voters may vote from overseas. However, note that citizens are disqualified from registration if they have not been in New Zealand within the last 3 years. Permanent residents are disqualified if they have not been in New Zealand within the last 12 months: Section 80 Electoral Act.

Referenda (conducted by post)

Legislation provides for both postal and non-postal referenda.  The Referenda (Postal Voting) Act does not specifically exclude voting by overseas electors.  All electors may vote: Referenda (Postal Voting) Act, Section 31.  Ballot papers are posted to the registered address of the elector: Referenda (Postal Voting) Act, Sections 32-34.

Electors may apply to have a ballot faxed to them for a number of reasons, including if they are “in some remote location overseas”: Section 35(1) of the Referenda (Postal Voting) Act 2000. 

Referenda (conducted traditionally)

Non-postal voting referenda arrangements provide that the Electoral Act will apply except where explicitly excluded: see Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 2000, Section 24 

Since none of the provisions governing special voting (see Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 2000 Sections 61 and 172) are excluded, the voting from abroad arrangements established for legislative elections extend to non-postal referenda. 

Local Government

There is no explicit provision permitting or excluding overseas voters to vote in local authority elections.  Local authority elections are conducted exclusively by post, at least by default: see Local Electorate Act Section 36