The deadline by which political parties must give written notice to the Electoral Commission of eligibility for an allocation of broadcasting time or money under the Broadcasting Act 1989 for the 2011 General Election is 5.00pm, Thursday 17 March 2011.
The Broadcasting Act 1989 (section references are to sections in that Act) describes the responsibilities of the Electoral Commission ("the Commission") to allocate time and money to eligible political parties to enable them to broadcast election programmes during the election period.
For the 2011 General Election, the election period starts
on Wednesday 26 October 2011 and ends on Friday
25 November 2011.
The Commission allocates to eligible political parties:
(a) the time that is made available by TVNZ and Radio New Zealand free of charge for the broadcasting of opening and closing addresses; and
(b) the money that is appropriated by Parliament
for the purpose of funding the broadcast of election programmes during the election period.
Eligibility for Allocation of Broadcasting Time and Money
The Commission must not allocate any time to a political party under section 73, or make an allocation of money under 74A of the Act, in respect of an election period unless:
(a) the party has given the Commission written notice by 5.00pm, 17 March 2011 that the party considers itself eligible for an allocation of time under section 73 or of money under section 74A; and
(b) the party is registered with the Commission
at the time Parliament is dissolved on Thursday
20 November 2011.
What the Notice Must Contain
Notice should be addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Commission.
In accordance with section 70C, every notice given to the Commission must state:
(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 2011 General Election.
How to Give Notice
Notice may be given by mail, facsimile or email, or it can be delivered by hand to the Commission's office.
The Commission's postal address and other contact details are:
PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140.
Telephone: (04) 495 0030.
Facsimile: (04) 495 0031.
Email: enquiries@elections.govt.nz
The Commission is located at:
Level 9, 17-21 Whitmore Street, Wellington.
Dated at Wellington this 17th day of February 2011.
Issued on behalf of the Electoral Commission.
ROBERT PEDEN, Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Commission.