Electoral Commission decision 2008-41, various broadcasters, election programmes, election advertisements
Dated: 3 November 2008
Decision Number: 2008-41
Subject: On 12 September 2008 the Prime Minister called a press conference and announced the date of the 2008 general election. The announcement was broadcast live by Newstalk ZB, Radio Live, Radio New Zealand, TV One, and TV3.
Findings and Determination: Live broadcast of the Prime Minister’s election date announcement is not an election advertisement within the meaning of the Electoral Finance Act, and is not a prohibited election programme within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act. The live broadcast was selected by or with the authority of the broadcasters for the purpose of informing their audiences within the meaning of section 5(2)(c) of the Electoral Finance Act 2007 and is therefore not an election advertisement within the meaning of section 5 of that Act. The live broadcast was a news programme within the meaning of section 70(3) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 and is therefore not a prohibited election programme within the meaning of section 70 of that Act.
This headnote does not form part of the decision available under Downloads, below.