Democracy Policy in brief

• Electoral reform to restrict candidacy for Parliament to candidates with a minimum of 10 years citizenship.

• Hold a new referendum on the MMP electoral system at the 2023 Election.

• Remove the foreign funding loophole by banning all corporate donations, and only allow for donations from people who are eligible to vote.

• Greater funding transparency with all donations over $500 disclosed.

• Reform the Citizens Initiated Referendum Act to make it easier to initiate referendums and make CIR binding with the support of two-thirds of voters.

• Implement Veto Referendums where voters can initiate a referendum to veto a law when Parliament gets it wrong.

• Lower the CIR threshold to initiate a referendum to 5% of eligible voters.

• Require the PM to certify that all ministerial appointments pose no risk to New Zealand’s security.

• Establish a Royal Commission to recommend an entrenched written constitution, subject to voter approval.

Advance NZ's plan for democracy:

Electoral Law Reform

Toughen the restrictions on candidacy for Parliament so that only New Zealanders with a proven commitment to New Zealand, by way of a minimum of 10 years citizenship, can stand for election.*

The Governor-General shall have the authority to designate, after a recommendation from Parliament, any class of people ineligible for election to Parliament where those people have had past involvement with a foreign state or foreign military that has committed human rights abuses, or had past involvement with a terrorist entity.

Hold a fresh referendum on the MMP electoral system at the 2023 General Election.

Electoral Financing Reform

Legislate a “no vote, no donation” rule by removing the foreign funding loophole so that corporate donations are banned, and only donations from natural persons eligible to vote will be allowed.

Require all donations over $500 to be disclosed publicly on an annual basis.

Require all donations over $1,500 to be disclosed publicly within 20 working days.

Legislate a ban on all political fundraising trusts.

Increased Citizen Participation

Reform the Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR) law to make all CIR binding where two thirds of valid votes in a CIR support a proposed policy change.

Require that Parliament must enact legislation to implement a successful CIR within 12 months of the result being declared.

Parliament may enact legislation prior to a CIR to provide voters with legislation to vote on which will be triggered by a simple majority vote in favour.

Enact a Veto Referendum mechanism where citizens can initiate a referendum, within 12 months, to veto any Act of Parliament that has been passed.

Reduce the required number of signatures to initiate a CIR from 10 percent of eligible electors to 5 percent.

Establish a process to enable petition signatures for CIR to be collected online as well as in paper form.

Democratic Security

Legislate to require the Prime Minister to certify to the Governor-General, before a minister is appointed, that the MP being appointed poses no threat to New Zealand’s security interests.

Require the Prime Minister to take security advice on all ministerial appointments prior to making recommendations for appointment to the Governor-General.

Appoint a panel of security and foreign policy experts to prepare a Foreign Interference Resilience Strategy for all New Zealand Government (including local government) foreign interactions.

Constitutional Reform

Establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to report on proposals for New Zealand to adopt an entrenched written constitution. The members of the Royal Commission shall be distinguished New Zealanders from all walks of life, representing Maori, the social sector, environmental interests, academia, and the business community. Any proposed constitution would only be adopted, or rejected, by New Zealand voters.