Candidate returns for Hamilton West by-election
Candidate returns for the 2022 Hamilton West by-election have been published on the Electoral Commission website.
Candidates must report how much they spent on election advertising (their election expenses) and whether they received donations that meet the thresholds for disclosure.
A summary and downloadable copies of the returns are available here.
The deadline for candidate returns was 12 April 2023.
Limits for election expenses
The spending limit was $61,100 (including GST) for a candidate’s election advertising expenses published during the regulated period.
The regulated period for the Hamilton West by-election ran from 20 October to midnight 9 December.
Donation thresholds
Candidates must declare donations of more than $1,500.
Candidates are not allowed to keep donations of more than $50 from an overseas person or anonymous donations of more than $1,500.
More information is available in the Candidate Handbook for by-elections.
Loans
Candidates standing in the 2023 General Election will need to declare loans taken out for their campaign, but this was not a requirement for the Hamilton West by-election. The loan rules came into force on 1 January 2023, after the by-election.