2014 Broadcasting Allocation Decision Released
The Electoral Commission has released its decision on the amount of time and money allocated to political parties for the broadcasting of election programmes for the 2014 General Election.
The Commission’s decision is available online here and is summarised below.
A total of 60 minutes has been made available for opening addresses and 60 minutes for closing addresses by both Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and Radio New Zealand (RNZ).
The amount of money appropriated by Parliament to enable political parties to fund their broadcasting of election programmes for the 2014 General Election is $3,283,250 including GST (the same as for the 2005, 2008 and 2011 elections). The amounts shown in the table below include GST.
|
Parties |
Monetary allocation (inclusive of GST) |
Time allocation of opening addresses (in minutes) |
Time allocation for closing addresses (in minutes) |
|
The New Zealand National Party (National Party) |
$1,053,622 |
15.5 |
15.5 |
|
The New Zealand Labour Party (Labour Party) |
$919,829 |
13.5 |
13.5 |
|
The Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand (Green Party) |
$401,380 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
|
New Zealand First (NZ First) |
$200,690 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
|
Māori Party |
$100,345 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
|
ACT New Zealand (ACT Party) |
$76,930 |
2 |
2 |
|
Internet Party and MANA Movement (Internet MANA) |
$76,930 |
2 |
2 |
|
United Future New Zealand (United Future) |
$76,930 |
2 |
2 |
|
New Zealand Independent Coalition (NZIC) |
$76,930 |
2 |
2 |
|
Conservative Party of New Zealand (Conservative Party) |
$60,207 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
|
The Alliance (Alliance) |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
The Civilian Party (Civilian) |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
The Expatriate Party of New Zealand (Expat Party) |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
Focus New Zealand (Focus NZ) |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit (Democrats for Social Credit) |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
Truth, Freedom, Justice |
$33,635 |
1 |
1 |
|
Radio New Zealand (RNZ) |
$4,012 |
|
|
|
Total allocated |
$3,283,250 |
60 |
60 |
|
Total available |
$3,283,250 |
60 |
60 |
The process for determining the broadcasting allocation is set out in Part 6 of the Broadcasting Act 1989. A party is only eligible for the broadcasting allocation if:
(a) the party is registered on the Register of Political Parties by 14 August 2014 (the date for dissolution of Parliament), and
(b) the party has given notice to the Electoral Commission that the party considers itself to be qualified for an allocation by the date required by the Electoral Commission (the deadline was 17 March 2014).
The Electoral Commission must allocate the time provided by TVNZ and RNZ and the money appropriated by Parliament to eligible parties in accordance with the statutory criteria, which are:
(a) the number of persons who voted at the preceding general election for a party and its candidates;
(b) the number of persons who voted at any by-election held since the preceding general election for any candidate for the party;
(c) the number of members of Parliament who were members of a political party immediately before the expiration or dissolution of Parliament;
(d) any relationships that exist between one political party and another party;
(e) any other indications of public support for a political party such as the results of opinion polls and the number of persons who are members of the party;
(f) the need to provide a fair opportunity for each registered political party to convey its policies to the public by the broadcasting of election programmes on television.
The Commission may vary the allocation decision under certain circumstances provided for in the Broadcasting Act 1989, including, for example, if a party fails to register as a registered political party by 14 August 2014.
More information about the broadcasting allocation process is available here.
The Electoral Commission's full written decision is available for download here [PDF 418.66KB].