Electoral Act 1993

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

206C: Maximum amount of party’s total election expenses

You could also call this:

"How much a party can spend on election expenses"

You need to know the rules about how much a party can spend on election expenses. If a party is on the ballot paper for the party vote, their total expenses must not be more than the amount on the Electoral Commission's website under section 266A. This amount is for each area the party has a candidate in. You also need to know that if a party is not on the ballot paper for the party vote, their expenses must not be more than the amount on the Electoral Commission's website under section 266A for each area they have a candidate in. These amounts include goods and services tax. The Electoral Commission's website has the amounts under section 266A.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1867468.

This page was last updated on 14 January 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

206B: Offence to incur unauthorised election expense, or

"Breaking election expense rules can get you in trouble"

206CA: Apportionment of advertising expenses for publication of party advertisement both before and during regulated period, or

"How to fairly split costs of party ads published before and during an election period"

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

206CMaximum amount of party’s total election expenses

If a party is listed in the part of the ballot paper that relates to the party vote, the total election expenses of that party in respect of any regulated period must not exceed—
the amount published on the Electoral Commission’s internet site under section 266A; and
the amount published on the Electoral Commission’s internet site under section 266A for each electoral district contested by a candidate for the party.

If a party is not listed in the part of the ballot paper that relates to the party vote, the total election expenses of that party in respect of any regulated period must not exceed the amount published on the Electoral Commission’s internet site under section 266A for each electoral district contested by a candidate for the party.
The amounts published on the Electoral Commission’s internet site are inclusive of goods and services tax.

Notes

Section 206C: replaced, on 20 December 2025, by section 52 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).