Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Corrupt and illegal practices - Corrupt practices

217: Treating

You could also call this:

"Bribing voters with food, drink, or entertainment is called treating"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

You can be guilty of a corrupt practice called treating. This happens when you give someone food, drink, or entertainment to influence their vote. You can also be guilty if you accept these things in certain circumstances. You might give someone these things to get them to vote or not vote for someone. You might also give them to get someone to register or not register to vote in a certain area. The law says what types of areas these are, like General or Māori electoral districts. If you have a licence to sell alcohol, you must not give people free food, drink, or entertainment to influence their vote. You can give people a light supper after an election meeting, and this is not considered treating. If you corruptly accept food, drink, or entertainment to influence your vote, you can also be guilty of treating. The law defines alcohol as stated in section 5(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This law is important to follow during elections.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM310402.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Government and voting > ElectionsCrime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

216: Bribery, or

"Bribery: giving or taking money to influence votes"

Next

218: Undue influence, or

"Using threats or force to control how someone votes"

Part 7Corrupt and illegal practices
Corrupt practices

217Treating

  1. Every person is guilty of a corrupt practice who commits the offence of treating.

  2. A person commits the offence of treating if at any time the person directly, indirectly, or by an agent corruptly gives, provides, or pays (in whole or in part) the expense of giving or providing, any food, drink, entertainment, or other thing to or for a person—

  3. for the purpose of influencing that person, or any other person, to—
    1. vote or refrain from voting; or
      1. refrain from registering as an elector of an electoral district; or
        1. register on the roll for a General electoral district and not a Māori electoral district, or register on the roll for a Māori electoral district and not a General electoral district; or
        2. for the purpose of procuring the vote of that person or any other person; or
          1. on account of that person, or any other person, having—
            1. voted or refrained from voting; or
              1. refrained from registering as an elector of an electoral district; or
                1. registered on the roll for a General electoral district and not a Māori electoral district, or registered on the roll for a Māori electoral district and not a General electoral district.

                2. Every person commits the offence of treating who, being the holder of a licence for the sale by retail of alcohol (within the meaning of section 5(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012), knowingly supplies any food, drink, entertainment, or provision—

                3. to any person where the supply thereof is demanded for the purpose of treating, or for any corrupt or illegal practice; or
                  1. to any persons, whether electors or not, for the purpose of procuring the return of a candidate or candidates at an election, and without receiving payment for it at the time when it is supplied.

                    1. A person who corruptly accepts or takes any food, drink, entertainment, or other thing in any of the circumstances specified in subsection (2) also commits the offence of treating.

                    2. Notwithstanding anything in this section, the provision of a light supper after any election meeting shall be deemed not to constitute the offence of treating.

                    Notes
                    • Section 217(2): replaced, on , by section 47(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).
                    • Section 217(3): amended, on , by section 417(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (2012 No 120).
                    • Section 217(4): replaced, on , by section 47(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).