Political parties which believe they will qualify for an allocation of broadcasting time for opening/closing addresses and/or funding for broadcast election advertising for the 2008 General Election are invited to give written notice of this to the Electoral Commission (“Commission”) by 5.00pm, Wednesday, 19 March 2008.
Parties invited to give notice are those already registered under the Electoral Act 1993, and those intending to register.
The Commission can only allocate time or funds to a party
if it is registered when Parliament is dissolved or expires and the party has given notice to the Commission as
required here. (Parliament will expire on 7 October 2008
if not dissolved earlier following the announcement of an election date by the Prime Minister.)
The letter giving notice must include a statement that the party considers it will qualify for an allocation of broadcasting time and/or funding for the 2008 General Election.
The notice must also include:
(a) the full name of the political party; and
(b) the name and address of the person providing the notice and the capacity in which he or she provides the notice; and
(c) where the person providing the notice is not the secretary of the political party, the name and address of the secretary of the political party; and
(d) details of any relationships that may exist between that political party and any other political parties in New Zealand which the Commission may need
to take into account in allocating time or money to political parties; and
(e) either:
(i) that the party is registered on the Register of Political Parties; or
(ii) that the party is intending to apply for registration on the Register of Political
Parties in order to be registered at the date
of dissolution or expiry of Parliament; and
(f) whether or not the political party intends to submit
a list under section 127 of the Electoral Act 1993 for the General Election to be held in that year.
Notice must be received by 5.00pm, Wednesday, 19 March 2008, and should be addressed to the Chief Executive, Electoral Commission; and may be given by:
? mail to PO Box 3050, Wellington 6140
? delivery to Level 5, Featherston House, corner of
Waring Taylor and Featherston Streets, Wellington
? email to helena@elections.govt.nz
? facsimile to (04) 474 0674.
The relevant law is in Part 6 of the Broadcasting Act 1989, particularly sections 70A–76D concerning the allocation process.
Dated at Wellington this 11th day of February 2008.
DR HELENA CATT, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission.