Electoral Act 1993

Election expenses, donations, and annual financial statements - Election expenses of candidates

205K: Return of candidate's election expenses

You could also call this:

"Telling the Electoral Commission how much you spent on your election campaign"

If you are a candidate, you must file a return of your election expenses with the Electoral Commission within 70 working days after polling day. You have to do this so the Electoral Commission can keep track of how much you spent on your election campaign. The return must be in the form required by the Electoral Commission.

You will need to make sure you follow the rules set by the Electoral Commission when you file your return. The Electoral Commission is in charge of making sure everyone follows the rules during elections.

When you file your return, you are telling the Electoral Commission how much you spent on your election campaign, and they will use this information to make sure everything was done fairly.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1867453.

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

205J: Invoice and receipt required for election expenses of $50 or more, or

"Keep a record of election expenses over $50 with an invoice and receipt."

205L: Nil return, or

"Telling them you have no information to share"

Part 6AElection expenses, donations, and annual financial statements
Election expenses of candidates

205KReturn of candidate's election expenses

Within 70 working days after polling day, a candidate must file a return of election expenses with the Electoral Commission.
A return under subsection (1) must be in the form required by the Electoral Commission.

Compare

1993 No 87 s 210(1)(a), (2) (pre-20 December 2007);
2007 No 111 s 86

Notes

Section 205K: inserted, on 1 March 2009, by section 6 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 1).
Section 205K(1): amended, on 1 October 2010, by section 32(1)(a) of the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 26).
Section 205K(2): amended, on 1 October 2010, by section 32(1)(a) of the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 26).