This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Referendums Framework Bill

Referendum advertising - General rules for referendum advertisements - Obligations of promoters to keep records

51: Promoters to keep records to verify referendum expenses

You could also call this:

"People running a referendum must keep expense records so others can check them."

Illustration for Referendums Framework Bill

If you are a promoter for a referendum, you must keep records of your expenses. You need to keep these records so that people can check them to make sure they are correct. This applies to you if you are not registered as a promoter, or if you are registered.

You must keep all the records, documents, and accounts that are necessary to verify your expenses. If you are a registered promoter, you must keep records so that your return of referendum expenses filed under section 72 can be checked.

You must keep these records until either three years after the referendum was held, or if there is another referendum, three years after the new referendum was held, whichever comes first.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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 25 August 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1028718.

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

50: Counting of expenses in relation to jointly promoted referendum advertisements, or

"How to count costs for referendum ads promoted by multiple people or groups"

52: Referendum advertisement to include promoter statement, or

"Ads about referendums must clearly show who is promoting them"

Part 3Referendum advertising
General rules for referendum advertisements: Obligations of promoters to keep records

51Promoters to keep records to verify referendum expenses

A person who is an unregistered promoter or who has been an unregistered promoter at any time during the regulated period must take all reasonable steps to keep the records, documents, and accounts that are necessary to enable verification of the referendum expenses incurred in relation a referendum advertisement promoted while the promoter is not registered.
A person who is a registered promoter must take all reasonable steps to keep all records, documents, and accounts that are reasonably necessary to enable the promoter’s return of referendum expenses filed under section 72 to be verified.
Despite section 3, subsections (1) and (2) of this section apply until the earlier of the following:
the close of the day that is 3 years after the date on which the referendum was held; or
if a fresh referendum is held under section 32, the close of the day that is 3 years after the date on which the fresh referendum is held.