Democratic structures and processes

Key statutes

  • Electoral Act 1993
  • Broadcasting Act 1989 (Part 6)
  • Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993
  • Political Disabilities Removal Act 1960
  • Referenda (Postal Voting) Act 2000
  • Local Restoration Polls Act 1990
  • Electoral Access Fund Act 2020

Key secondary legislation

  • Court of Appeal (List Election Petitions) Rules 1998
  • Constituency Election Petition Rules 2008
  • Election Petition Rules 1996
  • Electoral (Advertisements of a Specified Kind) Regulations 2005
  • Electoral (Expenditure Limit) Order 2020
  • Electoral (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2011
  • Electoral (Iwi Organisation and Other Māori Organisation) Regulations 2018
  • Electoral Main Rolls Closing Order 2020
  • Electoral Regulations 1996
  • Citizens Initiated Referenda (Fees) Regulations 1993
  • Citizens Initiated Referenda Regulations 1995
  • Referenda (Postal Voting) Regulations 2009

Information/links to recent or currently underway reviews

Independent Electoral Review

The Electoral Act 1993, as a core part of our constitution, was reviewed between May 2022 and November 2023 by an independent six-person panel. The final report of this independent review was provided to the Minister of Justice on 30 November 2023.

The final report is now released and can be found here [PDF, 11 MB]

Further information about this review can be found on the Independent Electoral Review website here:
Home | Independent Electoral Review(external link)

Other electoral reform

Enabling referendums in 2020

The Referendums Framework Act 2019(external link) –  This Act provided a single set of legislative provisions to govern the conduct of the referendums held alongside the 2020 General Election.

Other

The Justice Committee’s report into the 2017 General Election (and 2016 Local Elections), released in December 2019, made 14 recommendations for changes to the conduct of parliamentary elections, and 21 recommendations related to the risk of foreign interference to New Zealand’s democracy.

Inquiry into the 2017 General Election and 2016 Local Elections(external link)

Government response to Justice Committee Report(external link)

Ongoing work

The Electoral Commission must report to the Minister on the administration of the general election within 6 months of the election, including any changes it considers necessary or desirable to the Electoral Act 1993. This report must be tabled in Parliament.

The Justice Committee often opens an Inquiry into the previous general election, following the tabling of this report.

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