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Referendums Framework Bill

Referendum advertising - General rules for referendum advertisements - Promoter statements

52: Referendum advertisement to include promoter statement

You could also call this:

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

Illustration for Referendums Framework Bill

If you want to publish an advertisement about a referendum, you need to follow some rules. You can only publish the advertisement if it includes a promoter statement. This statement must have the name and address of the person or group who is promoting the advertisement.

You must make sure the promoter statement is easy to see or hear, depending on the type of advertisement. If the advertisement is a video or picture, the statement must be clearly displayed. If the advertisement is just audio, the statement must be just as loud as the rest of the message.

The promoter statement must have the correct name and address of the promoter, and if the promoter is a company or organisation, it must also include the name of the person who is authorised to represent them.

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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=LMS1028720.

Topics:

Government and voting > Elections

51: Promoters to keep records to verify referendum expenses, or

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

53: Promoter statement in joint election and referendum advertisement to comply with all content requirements, or

"Ads for elections and referendums must follow all the rules."

Part 3Referendum advertising
General rules for referendum advertisements: Promoter statements

52Referendum advertisement to include promoter statement

This section applies to a referendum advertisement published at any time from the date on which the provision of the enactment declaring the referendum to be a referendum for the purposes of this Act comes into force until the close of the day before polling day for the referendum.
A person may publish a referendum advertisement or cause or permit a referendum advertisement to be published only if the advertisement includes a promoter statement in accordance with this section.
A promoter statement must state the name and address of the promoter of the referendum advertisement.
If the promoter is a registered promoter, the name and address of the promoter stated in the promoter statement must be the same name and address of the promoter that appear in the register.
If the promoter is an unregistered promoter and is a body corporate or unincorporated, the promoter statement must also include the name of a member of the body who is the duly authorised representative of the promoter.
If the referendum advertisement is published in a visual form, the promoter statement must be clearly displayed in the advertisement.
If the referendum advertisement is published only in an audible form, the promoter statement when published must be no less audible than the other content of the advertisement.