Adopted 1 May 2020
Name and establishment
1. These rules establish a political party which shall:
i. Promote policy to advance the wellbeing of New Zealanders;
ii. Nominate candidates for elections held in New Zealand under the Electoral Act 1993, the Local Electoral Act 2001, or any other enactment;
iii. Call for natural persons resident in, or citizens of, New Zealand to join the party to promote the policies of the party and the election of candidates representing the party; and
iv. Register the party as a political party under Part 4 of the Electoral Act 1993.
2. The name of the party shall be “The Advance New Zealand Party”.
3. The name of the party may be abbreviated to “Advance NZ”.
Aims and objectives
4. The vision statement of Advance NZ shall be:
“Advance New Zealand wants a fairer New Zealand with a political system that is focussed on solutions for Kiwis, not politicians. We believe in a New Zealand that stands up for our nation's freedom and sovereignty, forging ahead as an independent country delivering high-quality public services, investing in infrastructure to create jobs and better prosperity for citizens, and providing solutions for our economic, social and environmental well-being.”
5. Advance NZ shall promote policies to support:
i. Freedom, sovereignty, and an independent New Zealand;
ii. A fairer political system focussed on solutions for Kiwis, not just politicians;
iii. Creating an innovative economic plan to lead through the challenging post-Coronavirus World;
iv. Boosting investment in infrastructure projects to create jobs and better prosperity;
v. Reforming social sector policies to deliver fairer outcomes; and
vi. Re-balancing foreign policy towards traditional partners like Australia, the US, and the UK.
Membership
6. Any natural person who is resident in, or a citizen of, New Zealand, and aged 16 years or older, shall be eligible to join the Party.
7. To become a member, a person qualified under rule 6 must:
i. Apply for membership in a manner prescribed by the Board;
ii. Making a payment of a membership fee of $2 in a manner prescribed by the Board; and
iii. Be approved for membership by the Board.
8. A member ceases to be a member if that person:
i. Abandons their membership by failing to renew their membership in accordance with Rules 9 and 10.
ii. Resigns their membership by communicating their resignation in writing to the Board; or
iii. Is expelled as a member by the Board after the Board follows a procedure under Rule 11.
9. All memberships fall due on 1 January 2022 and every three years thereafter.
10. A member’s membership lapses six months after it falls due unless that member pays a renewed membership fee of $2 in a manner prescribed by the Board.
11. The Board has discretion to suspend or expel a member if the Board considers the conduct of a member, in the opinion of the Board, has prejudiced or continues to prejudice the interests of the Party.
12. In exercising its discretion under Rule 11 the Board shall ensure it follows the principles of natural justice by providing the member whose membership is in question a reasonable opportunity to respond to any allegations made against that member and taking in to consideration any response.
13. The Board’s discretion under Rule 11 is limited in so far as if the member whose conduct is in question is a member of the Advance NZ Caucus the Board may only suspend or expel that member with the agreement of the Leader.
Governance
14. The Party shall be governed by a Board of Directors made up of:
i. Members elected to the position of Party Director;
ii. Members appointed to fill a vacancy in a position of Party Director;
iii. The Leader.
15. The Leader may participate in the making of all decisions of the Board as if the Leader was a Party Director except where the Board considers any item of business relating to the position of Leader, in which case the Leader shall not take part in any decision making on that item of business.
16. Elections for positions of Party Director shall be held in a democratic manner and in accordance with procedures adopted by a Triennial Meeting of the Party.
17. Procedures adopted for Party Director Elections must include a requirement that:
i. Members attending the Triennial Meeting shall have an equal vote in determining which members shall be elected as Party Directors;
ii. Any member may be nominated to stand for election to the position of Party Director; and
iii. The names of members nominated for election to the position of Party Director be notified to members at least 15 working days prior to each
Triennial Meeting
18. All positions of Party Director shall be subjected to a Party Director Election at each Triennial Meeting.
19. Unless a Triennial Meeting determines otherwise the number of Party Directors elected at a Party Director Election shall be four.
20. Where only four candidates are nominated for a Party Director Election those candidates are automatically deemed elected Party Directors.
21. Where fewer than four candidates are nominated for a Party Director Election those candidates are automatically deemed elected Party Directors and the Board shall have discretion to fill the remaining positions, to a maximum of four, at any time prior to the next Triennial Meeting.
22. If a vacancy in the position of Party Director occurs the remaining members of the Board shall have the power to appoint a member as Party Director to hold such position until the next Triennial Meeting.
23. The Board shall have all powers necessary to enable it to:
i. Adopt policies and procedures for the competent governance of the Party;
ii. Make decisions relating to the operations of the Party to ensure it complies in every respect with the Rules of the Party, any policies and procedures of the Party, the Electoral Act 1993, and any other enactment;
iii. Conduct processes for selecting members to be approved as candidates to stand in any election the Party contests;
iv. Carry out any disciplinary, suspension or expulsion procedures relating to members;
v. Appoint any person or organisation to a paid or voluntary position to assist the Board in fulfilling its obligations;
vi. Appoint any member to the position of Party Secretary to carry out the responsibilities of a party secretary as required by the Electoral Act 1993;
vii. Appoint an auditor in accordance with section 206J of the Electoral Act 1993; and
viii. Carry out any other task or duty necessary not otherwise provided for under these Rules to ensure the successful operations of the Party.
24. The Board shall not have responsibility for the decision-making of the Advance NZ Caucus.
25. The Board may determine that a Party Director be designated as Party Chairperson if it is in the interests of the Party for such a designation to be made.
26. Where the Board designates a Party Director as Party Chairperson the Board shall also determine what responsibilities the Party Chairperson has.
27. The Board has the general power of delegation of any function or responsibility to any person or body of persons if, in the Board’s opinion, such a delegation is necessary for the efficient operation or governance of the Party, except where, if the function or responsibility proposed to be delegated is delegated, doing so would have the effect of a final decision being made on:
i. The appointment of a Party Director to fill a Party Director vacancy;
ii. The appointment of a member as Party Secretary;
iii. The appointment of an auditor; or
iv. The selection of a candidate or composition of a list of candidates for a General Election.
Establishment Committee
28. Notwithstanding Rules 14 to 27 an establishment committee shall be appointed by the founding members of the Party for the sole purpose of:
i. Adopting a democratic set of procedures for the first Party Director Election; and
ii. Appointing a date for the First Triennial Meeting.
29. The notice requirements under Rules 17.iii and 46 are modified for the First Triennial Meeting so that “15 working days” should, in all cases, be taken as though it reads “2 working days”.
Candidate Selection
30. Prior to a General Election, or any other election the Party contests, the Board shall adopt a programme for the selection of candidates.
31. The Board shall determine what positions, if any, the Party shall field candidates for in a general election, or any other election, including whether the Party should submit a list of candidates in accordance with section 127 of the Electoral Act 1993.
32. The Board has full discretion to select candidates to contest an election and, in accordance with section 71 of the Electoral Act 1993, in doing so acts as delegates for this purpose having been directly elected by members at a Triennial Meeting.
33. The Board shall adopt candidate selection procedures prior to exercising its discretion under Rule 32 that ensures the candidate selection procedures makes provision for participation in the process by members.
34. The Board may modify procedures for candidate selection as the Board deems necessary where a candidate selection or selections is required for an election where a selection decision takes place:
i. no greater than 3 months prior to the date notified for a dissolution of Parliament;
ii. after a writ for an election has been issued under the Electoral Act 1993, or
iii. no greater than 3 months prior to the date appointed for an election conducted under the Local Electoral Act 2001.
35. In so far as is practicable the candidate selection procedures shall include a procedure that requests members provide an indicative show of support or opposition for prospective candidates through a process that may be conducted electronically, by post, in person, or through any combination of those methods.
Caucus and Leadership
36. Where one or more members holds office as a member of Parliament, a body of members to be known as the “Advance NZ Caucus” shall be established made up of any and all members that hold office as members of Parliament.
37. The Advance NZ Caucus shall, where it deems necessary, establish its own procedures and practices for operating and decision making.
38. A member shall be appointed by the Board as Leader as soon as practicable after the Party is established, or in the event of a vacancy in the position of Leader.
39. A member shall be eligible for appointment as Leader if that member holds office as a member of Parliament, and that member is supported by a majority of members of the Advance NZ Caucus.
40. If only one member holds office as a member of Parliament that member automatically becomes Leader.
41. If no members hold office as a member of Parliament the Board shall appoint as Leader any member the Board deems suitable.
42. A vacancy in the position of Leader shall arise where:
i. The Leader resigns the position of Leader;
ii. The Leader ceases to be a member;
iii. The Leader ceases to hold office as a member of Parliament;
iv. The Caucus passes a vote of no confidence in the Leader supported by a majority of the Advance NZ Caucus members; or
v. The Board passes a vote of no confidence in the Leader supported by no less than three quarters of the Party Directors.
43. The Leader shall have discretion to appoint any member as a spokesperson or representative of the Party including the discretion to appoint a member as Deputy Leader of the Party.
Triennial meeting
44. A Triennial Meeting shall be held at intervals of approximately every three years for the purposes of:
i. Adopting any proposed changes to these Rules;
ii. Conducting a Party Director Election;
iii. Adopting procedures for future Party Director Elections;
iv. Updating members, and seeking feedback from members, on the operations and achievements of the Party; and
v. Considering any matter the Board or Advance NZ Caucus considers should be brought to the attention of members at a Triennial Meeting.
45. The Board shall fix a date for a Triennial Meeting and that date shall be no later than 3 years and 3 months after the immediately preceding Triennial Meeting.
46. Notice of the date and location for a Triennial Meeting shall be communicated to members at least 15 working days prior to the date fixed for a Triennial Meeting.
47. Any member may attend a Triennial Meeting and vote in a Party Director Election or any other question put to a Triennial Meeting.
48. The Board shall have discretion to call an Extraordinary Party Meeting if the Board believes doing so is required to conduct business necessary for the successful operations of the Party.
49. An Extraordinary Party Meeting shall be conducted as if it was a Triennial Meeting except:
i. Party Director Elections are not required to be held at an Extraordinary Party Meeting; and
ii. The holding of an Extraordinary Party Meeting has no effect on the Board’s requirements under Rule 45.
50. Any decisions made at an Extraordinary Party Meeting have the same effect as if they were made at a Triennial Meeting.
Alteration of Rules
51. The Board shall propose alterations to these Rules where it deems necessary.
52. The Board may make urgent alterations to these rules, on a permanent or temporary basis, to ensure compliance with any law, regulation, or request from a competent authority including, but not limited to, the New Zealand Electoral Commission.