Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Local Electoral Act 2001

Electoral donations and expenses - Electoral expenses

111: Maximum amount of electoral expenses

You could also call this:

"How much money you can spend when running in a local election"

Illustration for Local Electoral Act 2001

When you run for a local election, you can only spend a certain amount of money. This amount depends on how many people live in the area you want to represent. For example, if the area has less than 5,000 people, you can spend up to $3,500. If the area has between 5,000 and 9,999 people, you can spend up to $7,000. The amount you can spend goes up as the population of the area increases. You can spend up to $100,000 plus a certain amount for each elector if the area has 1,000,000 or more people, as prescribed under section 139(1)(ha). If you are running for more than one election at the same time, you can only spend the highest amount allowed for any one of those elections. You must include goods and services tax in the total amount you spend. This rule helps keep election spending fair and under control.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM94762.

Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
Previous

110: Return to be open for public inspection, or

"People can look at election expense records"

Next

112: Apportionment of electoral expenses, or

"Sharing election costs fairly"

Part 5Electoral donations and expenses
Electoral expenses

111Maximum amount of electoral expenses

  1. The total electoral expenses (inclusive of goods and services tax) of a candidate must not—

  2. exceed $3,500 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 5 000:
    1. exceed $7,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 10 000 and larger than 4 999:
      1. exceed $14,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 20 000 and larger than 9 999:
        1. exceed $20,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 40 000 and larger than 19 999:
          1. exceed $30,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 60 000 and larger than 39 999:
            1. exceed $40,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 80 000 and larger than 59 999:
              1. exceed $50,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 100 000 and larger than 79 999:
                1. exceed $55,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 150 000 and larger than 99 999:
                  1. exceed $60,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 250 000 and larger than 149 999:
                    1. exceed $70,000 if any local government area over which the election is held has a population smaller than 1 000 000 and larger than 249 999:
                      1. exceed the sum referred to in subsection (1A) if any local government area over which the election is held has a population of 1 000 000 or more.

                        1. The sum is—

                        2. $100,000 plus the amount prescribed under section 139(1)(ha) for each elector; or
                          1. $100,000 plus 50 cents for each elector, if no amount is prescribed under section 139(1)(ha).

                            1. Despite subsection (1), if a candidate is a candidate for more than 1 election held at the same time, the total electoral expenses (inclusive of goods and services tax) of that candidate must not exceed the highest amount permitted under subsection (1) in respect of any one of the elections for which the person is a candidate.

                            Compare
                            Notes
                            • Section 111(1)(j): substituted, on , by section 113(1) of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 (2010 No 37).
                            • Section 111(1)(k): added, on , by section 113(1) of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 (2010 No 37).
                            • Section 111(1A): inserted, on , by section 113(1) of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 (2010 No 37).